Democrat challenges GOP nominee to debate
By DAWNE LEIKER
In 1971, when a 19-year-old Charles Schollenberger voted for the first time, he was able to experience the fruits of political advocacy.
As a young man in northeast Ohio, Schollenberger worked to lower the voting age from 21 to 18. With the passage of the 26th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution in 1971, he was directly affected by the democratic process.
Schollenberger, 57, Johnson County, entered the race for U.S. Senate in October. The lone Democrat declaring candidacy so far, he will face either Rep. Jerry Moran, Hays, or Rep. Todd Tiahrt, Goddard, in the 2010 general election.
Schollenberger stopped in Hays on Friday and Saturday, meeting constituents in the area and creating awareness for his campaign.
He asked the Republican U.S. Senate nominee, who will be selected in the Aug. 3 primary, to join him in a series of three televised debates on Kansas Public Television to be in August, September and October.
"That's why I'm here today, to challenge my two Republican opponents to debates in the fall," he said.
His debate challenge formally was issued Jan. 27. He has not received a response from the other candidates yet.
Schollenberger was drawn into the race for the U.S. Senate because of the "resurgence that our party had in the 2008 election," and the vacuum in the state Democratic party experienced when former Gov. Kathleen Sebelius accepted appointment as Secretary of Health and Human Services in the Obama administration.
He has been pleased with the public acceptance of his candidacy.
"When I started touring the state I found there were people interested in seeing me elected," Schollenberger said.
Three key issues are at the forefront of Schollenberger's agenda; jobs, health care and financial reform.
"I believe the stock market crash of 2008 came about because of deregulation that was fostered by Republicans," he said.
The resulting loss of governmental oversight resulted in "wildly speculative" investments that eventually resulted in the breakdown of financial institutions.
Schollenberger has worked as a Democratic party campaigner and served an internship with an Ohio congressman. He also wrote position papers for John Glenn's U.S. Senate campaign.
Schollenberger has a bachelor's degree in political science and a master's degree in journalism. He was an agriculture reporter for the Hutchinson News from 1981 to 1982.
After working on the staff of the Kansas City Times as an agribusiness writer, he later spent more than 10 years in marketing and public relations in the animal pharmaceutical and vaccine business. He and his wife, Jennifer, have lived in Prairie Village for 20 years.
Citing his experience in agricultural issues throughout his career, he said he hopes to serve on the Senate Agriculture Committee if elected.
"I just feel I have a lot of experience, and it's my way of giving back," he said. "America has been good to me, and I want to give back some of my skills for our future."
According to Schollenberger, his biggest campaign challenge is funding. An AP story showed Moran ending 2009 with $3.71 million in cash, and Tiahrt with $1.32. Schollenberger reportedly raised $5,165 during the last quarter of 2009.
Schollenberger is encouraged to see the support he is getting from the Kansas Democratic party and hopes to appeal to voters throughout the state who are ready for a "fresh" approach to government, he said. His campaign will depend on a "grassroots" approach, which was proven effective during Obama's campaign.
"We need citizen legislators that answer the call for the need in public service in times when the country's hurting," Schollenberger said, "I'm really humbled to get the chance to do this."