Sid the Kid, we hardly knew ye:
Springfield Mayor Sid Leiken announced Wednesday that he will run in May for the Lane County Board of Commissioners, ending his bid to unseat U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio in the 4th Congressional District.
Leiken said “Springfield is where my heart is” and that he can be more effective as the city’s representative on the five-person county board. The 10-year mayor will rely on name recognition in hopes of separating himself from a crowded ballot that includes two other members of the City Council.
Initially touted by the NRCC as the candidate who would be capable of giving longtime Democratic incumbent Peter DeFazio the race of his life, Leiken’s candidacy more or less blew up on the launching pad. Unfortunately for Leiken, his campaign never seemed to get past lingering questions regarding money that was funneled to his own mother for the listed purpose of polling. Leiken ended up having to pay $2500 in fines over the bogus poll. Better luck next time!
Chances to beat DeFazio were minimal even without that allegations. At the same time he is not among the craziest politicians i am aware of, and could, theoretically, being good member of the Board. So, really, good luck!
but I still think many of their candidates are over-hyped.
Or was there one and I just missed it?
I probably would have gone with “Leiken Not Lovin’ It”, or some such derivative.
how he can be such a progressive leader – and be so doggone safe – in a D+2 district
And he probably has just about the most difficult commute of any congressman in the continental US.