Mayors Take Sides In E. Deschire Primary Battle

Candidates seek to rack up endorsements before August 17 primary


CHRISTENKERR, EAST DESCHIRE--The race for the Senate is dividing competing sides of the political parties in East Deschire, as candidates for the seat being vacated by incumbent Seth Harkin (CNS) seek to earn endorsements and support before the August 17 primary election.

And this week saw three new endorsements emerge--all from mayors of some of the state's largest cities.

On the Conservative side, Derosa mayor and former gubernatorial candidate Sara Fraser endorsed businessman Mike Aventhalle, who is running in the four-way race for the CNS nomination for the Senate. At 32, Aventhalle is considered a rising star among many in the party, but lacks support from older voters, who feel a more experienced candidate would be ideal.

Praising him for his strong leadership in the private sector, Fraser said she "whole-heartedly" endorses him and believes he "is the only candidate in this race that can bring fresh leadership."

"We need young conservatives like Mike Aventhalle in Mavocke," Fraser said. "If we keep sending the same old people back to Mavocke time and time again, we won't have the fresh, innovative ideas that our country needs."

Fraser's endorsement is a blow to the two more seasoned candidates in the race, Congressman Sam Pyatt (C-Ridgeview) and State Senate Majority Leader Gerald Ivenroe, of Waverly.

The other Conservative candidate, Jim Reebis, a financial advisor from Clawfield, also landed an endorsement from Christenkerr Mayor Phil Qwenberry, who called Reebis a "perfect fit" for East Deschire.

"Jim brings not only experience and knowledge to the table, but also a strong sense of leadership that our state and country needs so desperately right now," Qwenberry said at his home in Christenkerr, where he hosted a fundraiser for Reebis. "Jim is the man for the job," Qwenberry said.

For Nationalists, the divided CNS primary is welcomed news, as the NAT is dealing with its own primary battle. Former senate candidate Marianne Licoule dropped out last month, which helped narrow the field. But a contentious battle between Secretary of State Allison Sweeten and Hansboro businessman John Blackman shows no signs of going away.

NAT party leaders and the party establishment have been privately urging Blackman to drop out, believing Sweeten to be the stronger and favored candidate. Blackman, however, entered the race long before Sweeten, and is continuing his campaign to the dismay of many party leaders, who want him out. And while many party leaders are backing Sweeten, Shansho Mayor Pat Dudragovsky bucked the will of his party's leaders Wednesday by throwing his support to Blackman.

"I'm supporting John Blackman because he is a man that can get the job done in Mavocke. His experience, combined with his integrity and bipartisanship make him the ideal person to represent our state at the national level," Dudragovsky said.

Blackman returned the compliments, hailing Dudragovsky for his "model leadership" and his "commitment to the people of Shansho." Blackman also thanked the mayor for his support, and urged people to "put aside regional differences" and "come together for the sake of our state."

Mayors of East Deschire's largest cities--Hansboro and Ridgeview--have not endorsed in the primary race. Many leaders from both parties have committed to staying neutral until the primary race is over.