OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (AP) — Several dozen leaders in Johnson County are supporting U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts’ re-election and are talking him up as a likely Agriculture Committee chairman if Republicans recapture a Senate majority.

The Roberts campaign released a letter Friday from legislators, mayors and other prominent county residents. Johnson County is the state’s most populous county and home to affluent Kansas City suburbs.

The letter praising the three-term Republican incumbent included endorsements from 29 GOP state legislators and four mayors.

They wrote that a potential Agriculture Committee chairmanship would be vital to Kansas. Roberts serves on the committee.

Roberts is in a tight race with independent candidate and Olathe businessman Greg Orman.

Orman’s campaign Friday cited news reports showing the senator has missed 65 percent of his Agriculture Committee meetings.