Schwab, Brownlee, Musil out of 3rd District race

A once potential candidate for the Republican Party 3rd District congressional nomination says he thinks it is a “foregone conclusion” that Nick Jordan will be the person to represent the party in next November’s general election.

State Rep. Scott Schwab, R-Olathe, said he once considered seeking the nomination but decided against it once Democratic incumbent Dennis Moore, D-Lenexa, announced he would not seek a seventh term in Congress.

“It didn’t look like we were having any candidates with much substance and weight,” Schwab said. “But once Dennis got out, it swayed so many more candidates better than me, that it just didn’t make sense.

“No, I’m not running.”

Nor is State Sen. Karin Brownlee, R-Olathe, who said at one time she also considered running for the 3rd District.

“I don’t believe I will pursue it at this time,” she said. “If something totally changed in the field of candidates, maybe I would consider it again, but I don’t sense that’s what I’m supposed to do at this time.”

Republican candidates who have officially declared their candidacy are: former State Sen. Nick Jordan, who lost to Moore in the 2008 campaign; former State Rep. Patricia Lightner; John Rysavy; Daniel Gilyeat; and Thomas Scherer. All but Jordan have filed their candidacies with the Federal Election Commission although Jordan never terminated his campaign committee from the 2008 election.

Others who have expressed interest, “serious” and otherwise, are: State Rep. Pat Colloton; State Sen. Jeff Colyer; State Rep. and House Appropriations Chair Kevin Yoder; and Johnson County Republican Party chair candidate Charlotte O’Hara.

Colloton said she is still considering seeking the nomination and hopes to make a decision in early January.

“I’m not a definite yes; when I’m a definite yes, I will be filing,” she said.

O’Hara said she planned to make a decision before the end of the year.

“This is a really, really complex and difficult decision,” she said. “There are so many things to take into consideration: family considerations, the amount of money it’s going to take and the (good of) the party.

“I have some loose ends that I need to tie up before I make my final decision.”

Overland Park attorney Greg Musil bowed out of the race the first week of December.

Colyer has not yet formed a campaign committee but said he’s still getting favorable responses as he continues to consider officially entering the race.

“We’re moving ahead on issues and visiting with a lot of people,” he said. “And, frankly, I’m a little overwhelmed by the great response we’ve had.”

Yoder was unable to be reached by press time Monday.

Schwab said he thinks the nomination is Jordan’s to lose.

“Everybody (other than Jordan) has a major reason not to (run),” he said. “Me, I have a newborn baby and I couldn’t run hard; Kevin (Yoder) missed his opportunity; Pat Colloton, she’s in favor of cap and trade; Jeff Colyer is in debt (from past campaigns); Greg Musil’s already out; and I don’t think Charlotte will go against Nick because they get along well enough and I don’t think she would do that.”

Colyer said he does not have any debt related to past campaigns.

“I paid my debt to myself; I filed the FEC report,” he said. “I put $200,000 into the campaign and here’s the big thing to understand: I was in a primary before; we have the fundraising record, almost $26,000 raised for that primary and I also lent some money to the campaign and those were the days when the contribution limits were less and that’s very significant.

“We’ve had 1,500 contributors to our campaigns and they’ve been very supportive. (The alleged debt) is a non-issue. Go look at the FEC report; it’s zero. I lent it to myself, it’s not a big deal. It’s just how people try to ding each other.”

According to the FEC, as of Sept. 30, 2009, Colyer had $0 net receipts, $0 in net distribution, $0 in cash, but was listed as having $239,455 of debt.

Schwab said he thinks any hint of a race for the Republican nomination will be finished by April 15.

“It’s not going to be in August and what I mean by that is that you look at the financials,” Schwab said. “By April 15, who has the most (campaign) money wins and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. People convey their heart with their wallet; it’s hard to give somebody a check you don’t firmly believe in.”

Schwab thinks it’s going to be a good year for Republicans in Kansas because of Sam Brownback, who is giving up his Senate seat in Washington to run for governor of Kansas.

“The Republicans are organized,” Schwab said. “We have a leader in Sam Brownback. He’s organizing things; he’s paying for polls; he’s raising money. If I was interested in Congress right now, Sam could shoot a poll and give me an honest picture of whether or not I have a legitimate shot.

“That definitely is what happened with Nick. Nice was going to announce he was running (on a) Monday, which happened to be the day it was in the paper that Dennis Moore was resigning.”

In making his announcement to run, Jordan said he based much of his decision on poll results indicating he could defeat Moore next November. Jordan ran against Moore and lost in 2006.

Schwab said he thinks it is possible Brownback’s choice for lieutenant governor could come from Johnson County, but added several factors will go into making that selection.

“(The announcement) won’t happen until April and it’s narrowed down to 50 people,” he said. “There’s a good chance (the selection) could come from Johnson County, but there are a lot of other dynamics that come into (making the decision).

“He needs to find someone to help him raise money for the party and for candidates and he needs to find somebody who can articulate his message. He also needs to find somebody who is going to pick up a constituency he might otherwise be weak in.

“He will look at all those dynamics and determining the strengths of each of those people and which one brings the most to the ticket and helps make the state better.”

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