Pottomeaux Announces Senate Bid

Former Brookings mayor will take on incumbent Kreighorn in primary


BROOKINGS, BIE--Nationalist Steve Pottomeaux is running for the senate, he announced Monday at a press conference in Brookings.

Pottomeaux's announcement means the former Brookings mayor will take on incumbent NAT Senator Michael Kreighorn in the July primary election. A moderate Nationalist, Kreighorn was elected last December in a special election, where he narrowly defeated Traditionalist candidate and Christian activist Sharon Anderson.

Since being elected to the senate, Kreighorn has tried to cast himself as a moderate, conservative-leaning Nationalist, often voting with the CNS on issues such as abortion and the military. But his middle-of-the-road voting record has disenchanted liberal Nationalists, who want a more reliable NAT vote representing Biereland.

"That's why I'm running...because we need someone who can represent all of Biereland and someone who does not let politics determine their vote," Pottomeaux said at his announcement press conference.

Pottomeaux is no stranger to state-wide politics. After serving as mayor of the state's largest city for two terms, he ran unsuccessfully for governor, losing by a small margin to then-lieutenant governor Jenny Duschowitz (CNS).

But Pottomeaux may have a better chance of winning this time. Though more liberal than most Bierelanders, the former mayor has strong name recognition across the state. Combined with Kreighorn's dismal popularity and the Conservative party's failure to recruit a top-notch candidate for the race, Pottomeaux's chances seem much brighter than they did in 2008.

Still, Mr. Pottomeaux knows that many Nationalists, particularly in rural areas, approve of Kreighorn's performance and support his moderate positions.

"I'm not taking any chances. Senator Kreighorn is a strong opponent and he has a large following. And for the next several months, my job's going to be to get out my message and get out my plan to the people of Biereland so they can decide who will best represent them in the senate."

The Conservative party has yet to recruit a top-tier candidate. So far, only former Senator Bob Kozzy, who lost his re-election bid in 2008 to NAT Steve Kolotano, has announced his candidacy. Last week, Darcy Marceau, a state representative who had been pondering entering the race, decided not to run. And in August, businessman Dick Klondis, whose family owns the Klondis Beer Company, announced he would not run.

Kreighorn's office has not commented on Pottomeaux's entry into the race. Senator Steve Kolotano, who is the leader of the NAT's senate campaign strategy for 2010, also declined a request for an interview.