WSP05794 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

uJ24 7 5 Conrad Back in Senate Race Death of Sen. Burdick Changes Polilical Plans Sen. Ken! ConrJd (D-~.D.). v.ho announced earlier this ~l.'ar thaI he would honor hIs] 9l'16 promise to SOl'th D3k0l3 voters that he Il.ould not seek re-election jf he had nol ~UCCl"t'deti in reducing the feder- al deficil. ha~ de\.'ided to run for the Senate position left vacant by [he death of Sen. Qucmin Burdick. Burdick's death lefr North Dakola in a slale of political ..hock. faced with the knowledge thaI neither of its IWOCXpcri- eneed Senator; would tie memh:rs of Con- gress when the I03rd Congress opt'n\ in JanuaJ)'. Rep. Byron Dorgan is no\l, run- ning (or Clmr.llj's Senate '\eal against Republican Sle\e S)'dncs\ of FafEo. with his own congressional ..eat being COnle-sled by Democrat Earl Pomeroy. Male insurance commi<"ioncr. and Republican Fargo Cit), Council member John Kor>>mo. E\'en as GO\. George Sinner appoim- ed ~1rs. Jocel)/l Burdick 10 her husband's Senate ~al for the interim. a mO\'ement arose to draft Conrad 10 be the Democratic candidate 10 replace Sen. Burdick. Gov. Sinner. with former gmernors An Link and William GU)'. led the effon 10 persuade Conrad that he had kepi his promi<;e wilh hi.. earlier annOUrM."'ement. and Burdick'" death changed the circumstances dramati- call)'. In a statement. Conrad said. "Hun- dred~ of Nonh Dal()(an~ individuals and orpniz.ations. have conlacted me u~ing me to run. I'm gratified b)' their suppon. The ove", helming ITI.ajorit). have said that when I decided noIto seek re-election 10 my seal five mooth~ ago. I kept my pledge to the people of ;';ot1h Dak.ola. Sow, with the death of Senator Bunkk. we face a new siruation:' Thomas P. Gr.m:s. Mid. West Execu- tjv'e DireclOr. spoke for nuny in the public po\.\ercommunity \.\hen he said. "We need Ken! Conrad in the U.s. Senate:' Grave~ stated, "fils lnowledge of the federal 51'11. A'f'nl ConrodfD-llt'.D,) poYoer program and of the complex parI- nmhips in regions of the country where the multipurpose projects are localed is unlTl.atched in the Senate. And as the ranl- ing member of the Senate Ene~)' Commit- tee's subcommittee on water and power. he tta... consistenlly demonstrated thaI he can focus on lhe nalional interest without los- ing sight of Nonh Dalota's pef\PC'Clivc. That is a unique lalen!." Bob McPhail. general manager of Basin E1CX'lric. s.aid. "Basin Eleclric is ver)' pleased lhal Sen. Conrad ha.s c~n to run for the seallefl vacanl by the dealh of Sen. Burdick. Sen. Conrad has been euremely helpful to us in the pasl in working out problems ....ith federal Jaws and regulations in his position on the Senate Ene~y Com- , . millee, and he has been a good friend to agricullure inr\onh Daloia... Gary Williamson. general manager of Central Power EICX'tric Cooperative in \linol. N.D.. and a ~fid.Wesl ditel.1or, Slat. ed. "Having st.-en all the line work that Sen. Conrad has done in the Senate. it's no sur. prise at all that there has bl-en this sponta- neous outpouring from the people of ~onh DalOia. ~ing him 10 run for Sen. Bur. dic~'ssea!. Hc'sanatural in his role as Senator, and il's nalural for him to remain there to represent Nonh DakOla." Nonh Dakola slatewidc manager Den- nis Hill CX'hoed William.son's words. saying' that Conrdd is "perfeclly positioned on the Senale Agriculture and Energy Committees 10 suppon Nonh Da~o[a 's interests in lhe Senate. There was no question but that he should run." The state's Democratic and Republi. can Panies held special con...entions on Oct. -1, al which Conrad wa.s officially nominated by the Democrats and Stale Rep. Jack Dalf)'mple was nominated as the Republican candidate. Although former Sen. Marl; Andrews. whom Conrad defeal- ed in 1986. was louted as a possible candi- dale. he announced in September thai he did not wish to t.: considered for his pany's nomination. The special election for the Senale will be held on Dec. 4, Gov. Sinner had petitioned me slate Supreme Coun to allow the election 10 take place on the general election date of ~ov. 3. The Coon ruled. ho....ev.er. that the special election would ha...e to be held later. 10 uphold a Nonh Dakolalaw that requires VoIers ha\'e at leasl-Wdays before an election 10 obtain absentee ballOlS. Mid-lVtsl Reporttr Fall ]991