Gilcrest Falls To O'Neil In Veroche Senate Primary

Gilcrest becomes second incumbent senator to lose a primary this season


TWIN LAKES, VEROCHE--Incumbent Senator Niles Gilcrest (Conservative) has lost his party's nomination for re-election to his more conservative opponent Talley O'Neil.

With 98% of precincts reporting, Gilcrest was trailing O'Neil 53%-46%, according to Veroche Secretary of State Bridger Beckham. Some military and absentee ballots still need to be counted, but Beckham estimated only about 40,000 more, making it almost impossible for Gilcrest to surpass O'Neil's vote total.

That means Sen. Gilcrest is the second senator this election season to lose his party's nomination for re-election. Last week, Michael Kreighorn lost the NAT nomination in Biereland, and is now running as an independent. Gilcrest is considering an independent run, according to campaign staff, but has not made a final decision.

"That's something we're looking at and something the senator might want to do but it really comes down to what he wants and what his family wants," campaign spokeswoman Mary Ann Rice said.

For months, O'Neil led the much more moderate Gilcrest in polls. Teaming up with Veroche's Conservative lion, Sen. Evelynn Blankenship, who is also up for re-election this year, O'Neil attempted to oust Gilcrest and other moderate members and replace them with "true Conservatives."

In recent weeks however, Gilcrest, who has touted his moderate voting record as proof of independence, closed the gap between he and O'Neil, and political pundits were unsure what would result from Tuesday's primary election.

At around 10:00 pm Tuesday night, O'Neil claimed victory at her celebration in Lavington in east Veroche. Calling the result "close but decisive," she praised her supporters for their "strong effort" and claimed her primary win is "proof the voters of Veroche want a Conservative who will stand up for them."

Further south in Twin Lakes, the state's second-largest city, Gilcrest conceded O'Neil would likely win, but told his supporters "this is not over."

"We're not throwing in the towel just yet because we know this fight is not over," Gilcrest told his disappointed but hopeful supporters.

In Veroche's other senate election, which received less attention from the media because it was less combative, fiery incumbent Evelynn Blankenship fended off the moderate former mayor of Lake City, Richard Scholinger. With 97% of precincts reporting Tuesday night, Blankenship had 54% to Scholinger's 45 per cent.

"We're delighted and deeply humbled the people of Veroche have renominated me for a second term. I feel very blessed," a beaming Blankenship told the media outside her campaign celebration in north Lake City.

A spokesman for the Scholinger campaign said the mayor is also considering a potential independent bid in the general election, but would not comment on specifics. Veroche is one of seven states that allow candidates to file as independents if they lose the primary election.

Blankenship will now go on to face Nationalist David Acade in the general election, while O'Neil will face Neal Neeley (NAT). The Nationalists are heavily favored to win both races.

Kreighorn To Run As Independent

Incumbent senator loses primary, will run as independent


AUBURNE, BIERELAND--Senator Michael Kreighorn (NAT), who narrowly lost to former Brookings Mayor Steve Pottomeaux in last week's senate primary election, will now run as an independent in the general election.

The tense primary election ended last Tuesday, when Pottomeaux narrowly beat the incumbent Kreighorn by a margin of 52%-47%, respectively. Pottomeaux, who had the backing of more liberal Nationalists, was expected to win the race against the much more moderate Kreighorn.

On Monday, Kreighorn announced at his home near Auburne he will run as an independent in the December general election. That means he will now face Pottomeaux (NAT) and Conservative candidate Robert Browning.

The three-way race, which many Nationalists fear will split the NAT vote, does not seem to worry Kreighorn.

"I believe the people of Biereland will vote for the best candidate, plain and simple," he told reporters outside his home. "That's why I'm running as an independent, because my party doesn't support me, but the voters do. I've got Nationalists, Conservatives, Democratic-Reformists, Independents...all are supporting me. People from all political parties and backgrounds are supporting my candidacy. That proves that our campaign is truly independent."

Reacting to the news, Pottomeaux did not specifically call on Kreighorn to withdraw from the race, but said, "a two-way race between me and Robert Browning would be best for the party," and added, "typically the unsuccessful candidate acknowledges the will of the people and withdraws his or herself from the race. That's just a sort of courtesy."

Not surprisingly, the Browning campaign welcomed Kreighorn's newly-independent candidacy.

"We believe that all credible candidates should be welcomed at the table, and if Senator Kreighorn feels he belongs in this race, then he should be allowed to run," Browning campaign spokesman Kyle Englehardt told the Greene Mountain Press. "Robert Browning is looking forward to debating Steve Pottomeaux and Michael Kreighorn."

Biereland Secretary of State Steven Yang confirmed to GNN that Kreighorn did file the necessary paperwork to run as an independent. Biereland is one of seven states that allow candidates to run as an independent candidate after losing a primary election.

The most recent senator who lost a primary election and then subsequently ran as an independent was Lee Schefsky, a Conservative from Carova, who lost the Conservative nomination in 2008 to then-state senator Tyler Dodd. Schefsky then filed as an independent, and the two went on to the general election to face Nationalist Ann Kocheni, who ended up winning.

A similar situation unfolded in December 2008 in Biereland's special senate election in which incumbent David Parker (NAT) was running for re-election. Parker was opposed by Conservative Driscoll Sherber and Democratic-Reformist Julie Grendhau, and while Grendhau won the first round of voting, she did not reach the necessary 45% to win. A run-off ensued between Grendhau and the underdog Sherber, and resulted in a narrow victory for Sherber.

It appears the Kreighorn-Pottomeaux-Browning race could head to a run-off like in 2008's special election. Biereland's other senate race, a rematch between Sherber and Grendhau, also is a three-way race, with the addition of D-R candidate Lylan Wyler. Many believe both races could end up in tight run-offs between the top two candidates, something both major parties want to avoid.

Thieves Nab Paintings Worth $105 Million In Grassadellia City Art Heist

Metro Police and forensics looking for clues in overnight heist

GRASSADELLIA CITY--Investigators are trying to determine how a group of art thieves stole more than $105 million dollars worth of paintings from the Gallagher Art Museum in downtown Grassadellia City overnight.

The heist occurred around 2:00 am early Saturday morning at the Gallagher, which is in the heart of downtown Grassadellia City. Museum officials noticed the missing art after arriving early Saturday morning for work. Security camera footage from the museum shows four men dressed in all-black. One man was armed with an automatic assault rifle, police said.

"We do know that four men robbed the museum last night, taking five paintings in all," Chief Barry Whitemore, of the Grassadellia City Metropolitan Police (GCMP) told the media Saturday morning. "At this time we have no leads, no witnesses. This appears to have been a very well-organized, well-thought-out crime."

Museum officials have released information about the stolen works. They include: "Mailenne de la Covine" by the famed Spaniard Pablo Picasso, "The Old English Townne" by 17th century English artist William Rumbleham, "A Walk on Lake Shalemore" by the early 19th century Grassadellian artist William Covely, "Dance at the Sycamore Tree" by Bedroqueian artist Anna Fable, and "Mi Resoncita" by 1800s Spanish painter Elian Corozano. The works totaled a combined worth of more than $105 million.

"We are devastated at this huge loss," Dr. Jeffrey Zidall, director of the Gallagher said at a press conference Saturday morning. "These thieves have not only stolen priceless pieces of artwork, they have also stolen a huge piece of the culture that defines our nation."

Grassadellia City Mayor Kellan Kastol called the heist a "brazen robbery of culture and intellect," and vowed to catch the suspects.

"Let those who did this know: our city will not tolerate the theft of art that is precious to our history and our culture. You will not go unpunished," Kastol said.

The Art Association of Grassadellia (AAG) has already posted a $1.25 million reward for anyone who leads police to the suspects.

The Gallagher Museum is closed indefinitely while forensics teams comb the property for clues.

POG Senate Candidates Headed For Run-Off Elections

No candidate from either party won majority in delegate race


OWENS PARK, POG--The race for Province of Grassadellia's open Senate seat is far from finalized, after no candidates from either party failed to reach a 50 per cent majority in the delegate race needed to avoid a run-off.

Tuesday marked the end of the state's delegate race, an election system that involves smaller elections in all of the state's 122 counties. If a candidate can attain 50% of the delegates up for grabs, they automatically become the nominee. But because candidates from neither side were able to reach the 50% threshold, both sides will now head to a run-off election scheduled for almost three weeks from now on September 7.

Advancing on the Conservative side are Rep. Bobby Hafen Jr. of the 19th Congressional District in central POG, and Rep. Julie Dennings of the 7th District, which covers the western suburbs of Lansdale.

The Nationalist run-off will pit Congresswoman Diane Coke of the 6th District against former Lieutenant Governor George Mercott, who slightly edged Rep. Deacon Busby (10th District) in the delegate race Tuesday night, securing the second spot in the run-off.

Only the top two candidates advance to the run-off elections.

Election night saw the candidates celebrating and reflecting on the race.

Gathered at a 'victory rally' in the town of Riggens in southeast POG, Hafen proclaimed 'momentum is on our side,' and warned supporters to 'dig in to the trenches' for the run-off.

"Julie Dennings is a formidable opponent and we need to spend the next three weeks pointing out the differences on policy and leadership styles, and the good voters of POG will decide who the best representative for our state will be," Hafen said in his victory speech.

Across town, Dennings tried to rally her troops.

"Part one is over. Now on to part two," she told a crowd of about 800 people. "Bobby Hafen and many other prominent Conservatives want you to believe he is the chosen candidate, and the decision has already been made final. It hasn't been made final yet. The voters will have their say in three weeks and until then we will keep reminding people that this race is not over. Bobby Hafen has not been annointed to represent our party. He has not been crowned the nominee yet," Dennings said.

On the other side of the state, where the three Nationalist candidates gathered in Owens Park to watch election night returns, the debate seemed more civil.

"This is a long, long race, but a very rewarding one," Coke told supporters at the La Creme Restaurant in downtown Owens Park. "Over the next three weeks, we will continue to share our message of responsibility in government, accountability, and leadership."

George Mercott thanked supporters for delivering a last-minute victory over Deacon Busby, which he attributed to his big margins of victory in western POG.

"We couldn't have won this race without the strong support we received in the western part of the state, and I thank each and every one of you for voting for me," he said. "You could have stayed home and not participated but you choice to get involved and boy, did you make a difference."

The Busby campaign tried to put a positive spin on the evening's disappointing results.

Speaking to reporters on Owens Park's northeast side, Busby acknowledged the delegate race was a 'nail biter' between he and Mercott, but expressed relief at the quality of the two remaining NAT candidates.

"Diane Coke and George Mercott are two very strong candidates, and I know that either one of them could take this seat for us and put [the NAT] on the road to a super majority in Congress," Busby told a local reporter.

After speaking to reporters, Busby declined to endorse either of his former rivals. However, anonymous sources within the campaign told the NPF Wednesday the congressman is expected to throw his support to Coke later this week.

All four candidates are now clamoring for last-minute endorsement from party figures.

Hafen has already been endorsed by 11 of POG's 15 Conservative members of Congress, including former rivals such as 1st District Rep. Fran Habries (C-Canton), Rep. Tanner Zannie (26th District), and Rep. Reuben Stykes (25th District).

Only freshman Rep. Nancy Garblake (15th District) has endorsed Dennings. Congressman Mark Rolen and businessman Terry Silvi, who both previously opposed Hafen and Dennings in the delegate race, have declined to endorse either remaining candidate.

On the NAT side, the endorsements are more evenly distributed, with Coke gaining the support of former primary opponents Reps. Paula Tulane (16th District) and Maria Adebos (4th District), and Mercott landing an endorsement from Rep. Jim Mahenas (8th District).

Congresswoman Jill Yateri, the party's Senate nominee in 2008, has yet to endorse, but friends close to her say she may possibly endorse Mercott due to a bitter disagreement with Coke during the primary battle. Her endorsement could lend liberal support to the much more moderate Mercott.

POG Secretary of State Max Kiesling (NAT) said he expects voter turn-out for the run-off elections to be around 30 per cent.

Biereland Senate Primary Turns Nasty

Biereland Nationalists deeply divided over increasingly bitter primary


BROOKINGS, BIERELAND--The deeply divisive Nationalist senate primary in Biereland is putting one senator on the attack and another on the defensive.

Incumbent Sen. Michael Kreighorn, who won a special election in December 2008, is facing a primary challenge from former Brookings Mayor Steve Pottomeaux. Now Kreighorn, a moderate, is accusing a fellow Biereland senator, Conservative-turned-Nationalist Steve Kolotano, of secretly recruiting the more liberal Pottomeaux to challenge him in the primary election.

In a debate Tursday night in Cedarie, Kreighorn accused Kolotano, who is also head of the Nationalist Senate Campaign Organization (NSCO), which is in charge of the party's Senate election strategy, of going behind his back and recruiting Pottomeaux.

"I'd like to say to Steve Kolotano: if you're not happy with me and my voting record, then talk to me in person. Don't go behind my back and secretly recruit someone to run against me. And especially don't lie about it afterwards and say you had nothing to do with it," Kreighorn said.

Pottomeaux responded, saying he made the decision to run on his own will.

"The decision to run for the Senate was my decision, Mr. Kreighorn, and I made that decision because I see a lack of leadership on your part. Steve Kolotano had nothing to do with this," Pottomeaux said.

Tuesday's debate was not the first time Kreighorn accused Kolotano and Pottomeaux of back-room deal-making. Throughout the campaign, the incumbent senator has dropped accusations.

"They don't like me. They're not happy with my voting record because they think I'm too moderate. So Steve Kolotano and some other Nationalist leaders went out and met with Steve Pottomeaux and asked him, begged him, to run against me and knock me out of the race," Kreighorn told a crowd at a campaign rally in March.

From the beginning, Kolotano has denied the accusations, saying he and Pottomeaux never met to discuss the race.

However, less than two weeks ago, the Kreighorn campaign presented leaked phone records from Kolotano's office, showing the senator had 17 calls to and from Steve Pottomeaux's home and office.

Documents made public by the Biereland Nationalist Party also show Kolotano met with Pottomeaux seven times over a period of four months, before Pottomeaux announced his candidacy.

Last Friday, Kolotano justified the calls and visits as "a friendship thing."

"Steve Pottomeaux and I are friends, and we talk regularly and meet regularly to discuss our personal lives and politics in general," Kolotano told the Greene Mountain Press. "Not once did I specifically ask him to run against Michael Kreighorn, or assure him he would have the party's support. I would never turn on a fellow Nationalist and I would never lie about that," Kolotano said while walking out of his Brookings office.

Regarding the accusations from Kreighorn, Kolotano called them "completely false" and "a misunderstanding."

"I think this is an emotional race, and Senator Kreighorn, who I consider a friend, is misinterpreting the facts. He's convinced that some sinister deal took place and the fact is it just didn't happen. And I hope that he accepts that and that this race can continue to take place in a cordial, respectful manner," Kolotano told the GMP.

Both campaigns followed up Thursday. Steve Pottomeaux's campaign released the following statement:

"Michael Kreighorn's vicious accusations and attacks on Steve Pottomeaux and Senator Kolotano are completely false and untrue, and have no place in this campaign. Michael Kreighorn should apologize to both Steve Pottomeaux and Senator Kolotano and publicly denounce his campaign's tactics."

The Kreighorn campaign refused to apologize and released this statement in response:

"As each day goes by, it becomes more apparent that Steve Kolotano recruited Steve Pottomeaux to challenge Senator Kreighorn in the primary election. What's worse is the evidence continues to point to a back room, secret deal made behind the back of Senator Kreighorn, and the many lies that were made to cover it up. Fortunately, the good people of Biereland will see what is going on in the Pottomeaux campaign, and will reject his kind of dirty politics. The people of Biereland want an honest senator, not someone who plots behind a fellow Nationalist's back."

The Nationalist Senate Campaign Organization (NSCO) office had no comment on the matter.

Almone Privately Asked King To Resign

POG governor asked Scott King Jr. to step down as Monomi governor at the height of the scandal


TREETON--Before he was recalled by the voters of Monomi, former Governor Scott King Jr. was asked to step down by his colleague, POG Governor Donna Almone, Chairwoman of the Governors' Board, King told the GBC Wednesday.

On Thursday, Almone confirmed to the NPF that she did ask King to resign at the onset of the scandal.

"I flew to Treeton to meet with Scott, and I was very blunt with him. I told him it would be in his own interest and in the best interest of the people of Monomi if he stepped down," Almone said.

But King refused to accept Almone's recommendation, she said.

"He told me he appreciated my concern and he knew that there was a lot going on and it could be damaging, but he wanted to stay in office. He felt that he was being ushered out by Erica Kinsley and other Nationalists who were trying to get rid of the scandal quickly during an election year, and he believed, he truly believed he was innocent," Almone said.

"I think he really thought he could ride this out and survive," she said.

King, who is boycotting local media out of anger for their coverage of his scandal and ousting, would only speak to the GBC Thursday in response to Almone's comments. He corroborated Almone's version of events, telling the GBC he refused to step down "because I was innocent, am innocent, always will be innocent."

Sources close to King's successor in the Governor's mansion, Erica Kinsley, told the Mavocke Capitol newspaper that Lt. Gov. Tom Cozier (C-CEA), Chairman of the Lieutenant Governors' Board, also made a visit to Treeton to meet with then-lieutenant governor Kinsley. The sources, who asked not to be named because they're not permitted to speak publicly, allege Cozier asked Kinsley to resign also.

A spokesperson from Kinsley's office would not comment Thursday. Cozier's office also did not return a call from GNN.

Despite being recalled back in April, Scott King is still very much in the media spotlight. He has filed a lawsuit against the state of Monomi, seeking monetary damages of $2.7 million and an overturning of state law for what he calls a "wrongful removal from office."

King says he is only suing for the amount of money the recall process cost him, and will donate all the proceeds to charity if he wins.

The former governor is also writing a book about his fall from power, and is reportedly in talks with the GBC about a possible TV show.

The GBC declined to comment, saying that all deals with the network are private until "finalized."