Former journalist from Prairie Village may run for U.S. Senate seat

[proud2BlibKansan]

The only Democrat who has shown an interest in running for the U.S. Senate seat held by Sam Brownback said Friday the party needs to change its approach to selecting Senate candidates.

Charles Schollenberger of Prairie Village, a retired communications executive and former journalist, said the party needs to stop recruiting wealthy people who can partially fund their own campaigns.

That's not a very democratic approach — and it hasn't worked, he said.

Schollenberger, 57, spoke to about 20 Sedgwick County Democrats at a luncheon at Larkspur Restaurant and Grill in Wichita.

Schollenberger said that last year the party recruited Olathe businessman Greg Orman to run against Sen. Pat Roberts, but Orman lasted only three months.

The party eventually selected lobbyist and former Rep. Jim Slattery, who lost by a wide margin.

Schollenberger said he's bothered by speculation that party leaders are trying to recruit California pharmaceutical millionaire Thomas Wiggans to run for the seat held by Brownback, who is running for governor.

"The question is, are we going to support one of our own local Democrats, or look to someone from out of state to run for our U.S. Senate seat?" Schollenberger said.

Wiggans could not be reached for comment.

Kenny Johnston, executive director of the Kansas Democratic Party, declined to comment.

more . . .
http://www.kansascity.com/news/breaking_news/story/1471701.html

[hfojvt]

1. twenty? That's all?

I don't feel so bad then that we only get about 19 for our breakfast events. Twenty is a pretty small group for a big city like Wichita.

Slattery was sort of a local. At least a former local. I don't see as much of a connection for Wiggans, although he did graduate from KU. He also has donated to Dennis Moore, but also maxed out donations to Rudy Giuliani.

I think that is annoying too, if true, that the party is trying to recruit a rich carpetbagger.

At least we won't see a repeat of 2002.

[SheilaT]

2. From what I understand

Schollenberger is really dragging his feet on raising money. He's allowed himself to be cowed by the party higher-ups who had the stupid idea of bringing someone in from out of state -- who from what I understand is essentially a Republican. Plus, even a lot of good Dems would vote for the homegrown Republican rather than an out of state import Democrat.

I volunteered for Joan Ruff during her brief run for the Senate seat five years ago, and the reason she gave up when she did was that she realized that she should have started a year earlier and needed to have a million dollars in the bank a year before the election. Schollenberger, as I've been told by his nominal campaign manager, isn't willing to collect the sum of money (I believe it is $5,000) which would trigger his need to file with the Federal Election Committee. That's extremely short-sighted on his part. He should be out there running and raising money without worrying about whether or not the party will annoint him. The truly sad thing is that there's no Democrat in the entire state with the gumption or recognition to run a credible campaign.

[hfojvt]

3. hmmm. now Wiggans is running for Governor

http://wiggansforkansas.com/about_tom

and it says he lives in Olathe.