KALAMAZOO, MI — Former state Rep. Lorence Wenke has been formally selected by the Michigan Libertarian Party as its candidate for the 20th District state Senate race this fall.

Michigan Libertarian Party Chairwoman Mary Buzuma said in a press release announcing the decision that Wenke is a candidate who knows what it takes to create jobs, will bring people to the party and will help spread the message of the Libertarian Party of more freedom and less government.

Wenke will appear on the general election ballot on Nov. 4. He will not appear on the August ballot since there is no primary for Libertarian candidates.

Wenke, a former longtime Republican, announced last month that he was leaving the Republican Party in part "because of its position of discrimination against gays and its policies that abuse taxpayers in government employee compensation."

Before his decision to leave the party, Wenke was going to face state Rep. Margaret O'Brien, R-Portage, in the August primary. Now, O'Brien will only face Ron Zuiderveen Jr., a Kalamazoo home appraiser who has never held public office.

The 20th District, which includes all of Kalamazoo County, will be vacant since incumbent Tonya Schuitmaker, R-Antwerp Township, is seeking re-election in the new 26th District. In addition to O'Brien and Wenke, state Rep. Sean McCann, D-Kalamazoo, is also running for the seat.

Alex Mitchell covers county government and taxes for the Kalamazoo Gazette. Email him at amitche5@mlive.com or follow him on Twitter.