Kansas House Speaker Ray Merrick has named Wade Hapgood as his new chief of staff.
Hapgood replaces Christie Kriegshauser, who is leaving to join the Kansas Chamber of Commerce as vice president for political affairs.
Hapgood has been Merrick's legislative director since January. He was previously an aide to Merrick when the Stilwell Republican was House majority leader from 2007 through 2010. Merrick says he'll name a new legislative director soon.