Duncan-Roit Won't Run For Senate

KLN Congresswoman won't seek CNS nomination

KIRKENELLY, KLN--Kalnier Congresswoman Kimberley Duncan-Roit will not run for the Senate, she announced today.

Duncan-Roit, who represents the 1st congressional district of Kalnier in the southeast corner of the state, was rumored to be considering a challenge to NAT Senator Mark Carr, who has suffered huge drops in approval and poll numbers. However, today on the GBC, Rep. Duncan-Roit revealed she will not run for the senate.

"After lots of thought and consideration, I've come to the realization that running for the senate at this point in my life and my career is just not in the best interest of myself, my family, or my constituents," Duncan-Roit told GBC news personality Tom Arnhem.

Duncan-Roit's decision virtually clears the way for Conservative Rep. Samuel Tracy, who has already announced his candidacy for the senate. Tracy, who represents the 9th district, which encompasses central and western Kalnier, is widely believed to be the strongest CNS candidate to go up against Carr. Duncan-Roit was seen as one of the only other viable CNS candidates to challenge Carr.

Rep. Tracy's office did not comment on Duncan-Roit's announcement. The state CNS party told GNN it respects Representative Duncan-Roit's decision, and will now focus on supporting Mr. Tracy's candidacy.

Allen: Gov. King 'Dragging Us Through The Mud With Him'

NAT Congresswoman renews call for governor's resignation

SKYLLINGS, MON--On Thursday, NAT Congresswoman Mary Kay Allen renewed her call for embattled Monomi Governor Scott King (NAT) to resign.

Allen, who made headlines last month when she became the first major NAT official in Monomi to call for the governor's resignation, told the GBC's Luke Gissel that the governor "has no choice" but to step down because he has "lost credibility with the state legislature and his constituents." Ms. Allen also rebuked King, whom she has described in the past as a friend, for "dragging [Monomians] through the mud with him," and told Gissel she wished he would "spare the state" by resigning.

King is under investigation for a range of crimes, including prostitution, using his influence to land state contracts for friends, and obstruction of justice. In June, Federal investigators announced they did not have enough evidence to file charges. The case has now been turned over to Monomi's Attorney General, Ed Casey (NAT), who will decide if the state will file charges.

Efforts are already underway in the State Assembly to proceed with impeachment. A citizens' group, called Citizens to Recall Scott King Jr., has also begun a recall effort to remove the governor from office. So far, that group says it has around 411,000 signatures. Monomi's Secretary of State, Sharon Dimaggio, says the group needs 389,000 valid signatures by August 17th to get the recall measure on the ballot.

Mr. King maintains he is innocent of all allegations leveled against him. So far, several state lawmakers and Conservative congressmen have called for his resignation. But only one of Monomi's five delegates, Willy Locke (DR), has done so. Lt. Gov. Erica Kinsley (NAT) has also called for King to step down, fueling speculation her call was purely political, as Kinsley would assume the governorship should King leave office, and does not want a scandal-ridden King over-shadowing a possible 2010 run for governor.

Allen says her calls for King's resignation are nothing personal. In fact, Allen says she considers King a friend who is "unfortunately involved in a situation that makes it difficult for him to perform his duties as governor."

"I just know that here in the 1st district, my constituents are angry that the governor and the state legislature are being distracted by this. They want him gone. They want the legislature back to work on real issues facing our state," Allen said.

King's office did not comment when asked for a reaction to Allen's latest comments. Lt. Gov. Erica Kinsley also did not have immediate comment.

Thompson Mulling Ambassadorship To Japan

Lial Nationalist may leave Senate for ambassador position

MAVOCKE, CEA--Lial Senator Juslana Thompson (NAT) may leave her job in the Senate for an ambassadorship offered to her by President Menuhaeo and Foreign Affairs Secretary Jim McCaren, sources say.

Thompson has been offered the ambassadorship to Japan, and is seriously considering it, sources close to the situation told GNN. The position would give the young senator a prestigious position in the Menuhaeo administration's foreign affairs department. But if she takes the job, she will be giving up a safe seat she recently won re-election to in 2008.

Should Thompson resign her seat, Lial Governor Gavin Gymbal, a Conservative, would appoint a replacement to her Senate position. However, Lial law stipulates that the sitting governor can only appoint someone from the same party as the person who previously held the seat. Furthermore, the governor can only choose from among three nominees given by the state party. Some possible replacement candidates include Reps. Pat Alosha, Zorda Hutchinson, Jason Ickis, Omar Paddaq, and Jamie Scousenovy.

The senator's office declined to comment on reports she is considering the ambassadorship to Japan. However, sources close to her say she will make a decision within the next three weeks.

Antonnage Not Running In 2010

Former CNS senator will not seek office in 2010 election

CHRISTON, WIK--Former Senator Marie Antonnage (C-POG) will not run for office in 2010, despite heavy speculation from both sides of the political aisle.

The popular former Conservative leader made the announcement Wednesday at a press conference in Christon. She was widely rumored to be considering a third run for the Senate in Wilkonshire, or a possible return to POG, the state she formerly represented, to run for the Senate there. However, in the short press conference, Antonnage said she was ending all speculation.

"I have come to the conclusion that now is not the time for me to run for public office. It would not be in the best interest of me, my family, or the people," notably lacking specificity on the people of which constituency. She continued, "Instead of seeking office myself, I will continue to work to elect strong, firm Conservative leaders to the Senate, the Assembly, and other state-wide offices across the country."

Antonnage's announcement was a blow to Wilkonshire Conservatives, who were counting on her to run against either Senators Sylvea Stone (NAT) or Terry Branlin (NAT), both of whom are up for re-election. Besides Antonnage, the CNS has few potential candidates to put up against Stone and Branlin. The only competitive candidate appears to be former Gov. John R. Agnew, who is reportedly contemplating a bid for the Senate.

Antonnage, who previously represented Province of Grassadella, resigned in 2007 to run for the Senate in Wilkonshire. She lost to Nationalist Terry Branlin by a narrow margin of 51%-49%. Mrs. Antonnage then ran again in 2008, this time against NAT incumbent Tom O'Hearn, and lost by a slightly larger margin of 52%-48%, respectively.

After her loss to O'Hearn, speculation swirled the former beloved Conservative leader would either run for the Senate in Wilkonshire a third time in the 2010 election, or move back to POG and run for the Senate there, where she still has high favorability ratings. Strategically, Antonnage would have a better chance of winning in the more conservative-leaning Province of Grassadella than the decidedly more liberal state of Wilkonshire.

But now, with no ambitions for 2010, Antonnage will said she will stay in Wilkonshire, and continue to fundraise and help support like-minded Conservative candidates across the country, specifically through her political action committee (PAC) she created, called Common Sense Conservativism (CSC-PAC).

Mrs. Antonnage did not comment on future political ambitions beyond 2010, only saying she is happy to help the CNS party in the 2010 mid-term elections.

Leona Endorses Gilcrest

Former CNS candidate for governor endorses incumbent in potential messy primary

LAKE CITY, VER—Niles Gilcrest is the right person to represent Veroche in the Senate, according to former gubernatorial candidate Steve Leona (CNS), who announced Friday that he will support Gilcrest (CNS) in his bid for re-election.

So far, Gilcrest, a freshman senator first elected in 2008, officially has no opponents. But Neal Neeley, a liberal environmental activist and President Menuhaeo’s original nominee for Environmental Affairs Secretary, is almost certain to announce his candidacy for the NAT nomination (Neeley was denied confirmation in the Senate by a vote of 42-48). Furthermore, Gilcrest, who has taken heat from traditionalist, right-wing members of his party for his moderate positions and frequent alliances with the NAT, is likely to face a primary challenge from the far more conservative Talley O’Neil, the wife of Congressman Rich O’Neil (CNS), who has not announced her candidacy but is widely expected to run.

Leona said he supports Gilcrest because the freshman senator has “stood up for Verochean values” and “has not let his party dictate his votes.” Mr. Leona also said he sympathizes with Senator Gilcrest for having to make several “difficult, heart-felt decisions” during his first, brief term in office.

When asked if he would endorse a candidate in Veroche’s other Senate race, Mr. Leona declined, saying he does not know Senator Evelynn Blankenship (CNS) or her primary opponent, former Lake City Mayor Richard Scholinger, well enough to make a decision.

While flattering, Leona’s endorsement of Gilcrest may not be welcomed by the senator’s campaign. Leona is highly unpopular in the Plains State, and bitterly divided his party with his controversial campaign tactics when he ran against incumbent Gov. Linda Van Auhn (NAT) in 2008. Mr. Leona lost to Van Auhn by a margin of 63%-37%, respectively.

Mr. Leona did not say if he plans to run for political office in the future.