ShawneeDispatch.com

Two weeks after his endorsement of Democrat Corey Mohn to succeed him as the Kansas House Representative for the 39th District, Ray Cox said he hasn't heard any criticism from fellow Republicans except what he's seen in the news.

"I've never been called a RINO," Cox said, referring to the epithet used by some conservatives to describe moderates as being "Republican in Name Only".

Conservative reaction to Cox's endorsement of Mohn in the news has been harsh, including a quote from John Altevogt, a social conservative and former columnist for the Kansas City Star, who referred to Cox as "rubbish" last week after his endorsement.

Cox said he wouldn't dignify Altevogt's remark with a response.

The executive director of the Kansas Republican Party, Ron Freeman, said Cox's endorsement of Mohn was motivated by "sour grapes" because Cox's original choice to succeed him, grocer Quentin Brewer, lost the primary to self-proclaimed "traditional conservative" Owen Donohoe, a medical-devices business owner.

"Obviously, Ray acted on his own. That was his personal decision and it doesn't represent the view of the Republican party," Freeman said.

Freeman said the Kansas GOP stood behind Donohoe, and that Mohn could not be considered, as Freeman said Mohn had claimed, to be closer to moderate Republican philosophy, because of his support for gay marriage and higher taxes.

Cox said two weeks ago he thought Donohoe was the wrong candidate because of his focus on a "few little social issues" and because he was too partisan. Cox said last week he thought Kansans knew and appreciated his 14 years in the House, and that he worked for them and not for his political party.

Donohoe's campaign has stressed his anti-abortion stance and opposition to taxes, and the anti-tax group pushing for a so-called "taxpayer's bill of rights," Americans For Prosperity, is supporting Donohoe.

Cox said he'd often been told, "many people know you're consistent, Ray, we appreciate that you look at issues and have never been afraid to cross party lines."

Cox added, "I see the involvement of our government and I know who I'd like to have for my state representative as far as my views and the ability to get things done. It's just issues and people, and not parties."

Mohn, for his part, said the reaction he's received from Cox and Brewer's endorsement has been encouraging.

"I've gotten a really positive message out of it," Mohn said. "Anyone who thinks what Ray and Quentin did was easy, they're not seeing reality."

Mohn added, "I've had some great conversations with people you'd consider conservative. Even though they identify as conservative, they vote on the person."