Schefsky To Run As Independent In Carova Senate Race

After primary defeat, Schefsky will run as Independent

CAROVA CITY, CAR--After a narrow defeat in Carova's primary last Thursday, incumbent senator Lee Schefsky will continue his bid for re-election as an independent.

Schefsky narrowly lost to fellow conservative Tyler Dodd. The 28-year-old president of the state senate--the youngest in state history--barely won with 50.71% to Schefsky's 49.29%.

After his defeat, pundits and party insiders speculated Schefsky would switch his affiliation to independent, allowing him to stay in the race. And Monday, Schefsky did just that. In a press conference at his Carova City campaign headquarters, the 58-year-old senator told reporters he was "surprised" by the outcome of Thursday's election, but "not shaken."

"I think my staff and I were all taken back a little, but we are in no way giving up," he said.

It had proved to be a tough primary season for Senator Schefsky. Long upset over Schefsky's opposition to the war in Iraq, hard-line conservatives within the state party convinced party activist Judy Padilla to challenge the two-term senator. At the time, Padilla was living in Lial, and not even a legal resident of Carova. In January 2008, however, she purchased a home in Lorenzi, and rapidly began raising funds for her campaign.

The primary field grew in April with the addition of two new candidates: Aldridge mayor Dave Emser and stay-at-home mom Donna Creilo. In May, at the prompting of party officials, Dodd finally entered the race.

Schefsky's opponents quickly sharpened their arrows. In particular, Padilla and Dodd went after the senator for his opposition to war funding and troop deployments. Padilla called him a "so-called conservative," while Dodd accused him of "abandoning the Conservative party and Carovans."

Schefsky defended himself, calling the Iraq war "unjust, unprovoked, and uncalled for." He also claims while he opposes the Iraq war, he has always supported benefits for veterans and active military service members. The senator himself is a veteran of the Vietnam war.

Some confusion in the primary campaign ended last month when Padilla dropped out of the race. In her shocking departure, Padilla publicly confessed she never intended nor wanted to become the party's nominee. Instead, she said, she only wanted to upset Schefsky for his "treasonous" voting record. As expected, Padilla through her full support behind Dodd and fellow rivals Emser and Creilo soon withdrew from the race as well.

Despite the withdrawal of three candidates, the primary election was anything but predictable. Polls by both campaigns and independent groups showed a dead heat race between Shefsky and Dodd. And the suspense continued up until election day, when Dodd defeated Schefsky by less than two points, or just 7,447 votes.

Because of Schefsky's decision to continue his campaign, voters will have three choices on the ballot this fall. Dodd, Schefsky, and NAT Ann Kocheni, former Secretary of Public Health, will all face each other in the general election. What is uncertain is if the divisive CNS primary will give Kocheni an edge in November.