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.