Posted: 2/16/05
Kennedy will seek Dayton's Senate seat
T.W. Budig
ECM Capitol Reporter
Sixth District Congressman Mark Kennedy declared his candidacy for the U.S. Senate last Friday amid family in a small park in Watertown, his hometown.
In a brief 10-minute speech, the three-term Republican beckoned to his familyís Minnesotaís roots and values ó pledged to protect Social Security, create jobs and bolster the military as senator ó and spoke of replacing angry words with bipartisan solutions.
ěWhen times get tough, you have my word that I will never stop working for you, or abandon my post no matter how difficult the challenge,î Kennedy said.
Kennedy, 47, has long been considered a likely senatorial candidate.
1st to announce
He is the first candidate to formally announce his senate run ó former U.S. Sen. Rod Grams of St. Francis has indicated he is interested in seeking the seat he lost to Democratic Sen. Mark Dayton in 2000.
First District Republican Congressman Gil Gutknecht has also expressed interest in running for the Senate.
Daytonís announcement last week that he would not seek another term in the Senate pushed up Kennedyís announcement by about 10 days, Kennedy said.
Kennedy expressed confidence that he would win the Republican Partyís endorsement for Senate ó he plans to seek it and abide by it.
ěIíve always abided by endorsements,î he said.
ěIím confident I will be the person who represents the party in the fall ó and represents Minnesota in 2007,î said Kennedy.
Kennedy and his wife Debbie have four children and the couple, who met in 4-H as teenagers, will soon celebrate their 25th anniversary.
An accountant by profession, Kennedy spent 20 years in business before challenging Second District congressman David Minge in 2000 and defeating the four-term Democrat incumbent in an upset victory.
Redistricting two years later had Kennedy seeking reelection in the Sixth District where he handily defeated Democrat Janet Robert.
Kennedyís biggest challenge came last year when he faced child advocate Patty Wetterling of St. Joseph in a closely watched Sixth District scramble.
But Kennedy ultimately defeated Wetterling by eight points.
Kennedyís announcement sent political waves through the Sixth District.
On Monday State Sen. Michele Bachmann, R-Stillwater, declared her intentions to run for Kennedyís vacant Sixth District Congressional seat.
Another Republican, Rep. Jim Knoblach, R-St. Cloud, is also expected to announce his intentions to run for Congress.
Other Republicans seen as possible contenders include former state education chief Cheri Pierson Yecke, Rep. Phil Krinkie, R-Shoreview, and Secretary of State Mary Kiffmeyer.
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