Former Kansas City mayor Charlie Wheeler appears to be back on the ballot for state treasurer.

Wheeler, 81, was one of 14 candidates tossed off the ballot last month for not filing a personal financial disclosure form.

But Wheeler, a Democrat, sued Secretary of State Robin Carnahan to get back on the ballot, and apparently won — his name has been moved from the list of withdrawn candidates to the list of filed candidates.

While most voters on this side of the state are probably unfamiliar with Wheeler, he is a household name in K.C. He served as mayor in the 1970s and, more than 20 years later, had a term in the State Senate.

Kansas City’s downtown airport is named for him.

Prior to Wheeler’s reinstatement in the treasurer’s race, the Democratic primary was a strictly St. Louis-area affair: The trio of candidates were Andria Simckes, from Creve Coeur; State Rep. Clint Zweifel, from Florissant; and Mark Powell, mayor of Arnold.

Wheeler’s return to the ballot could benefit Simckes, the only woman in the contest. Of course, there is the possibility that the three St. Louis candidates could split the local vote, meaning Wheeler’s re-entry might benefit, well, Wheeler.

A hat tip to Big Muddy Politics, which first reported the possibility that Wheeler had re-joined the race.

Wheeler