Bucher to Run in the 99th?

Cindy Kilkenny is speculating that Paul Bucher may be planning a run for the 99th Assembly District.

I think that might be the case. His wife’s blogs have disappeared. Donald Pridemore, who currently holds the seat, had about a $6,000 balance net of personal loans. The primary would be in September.

Pridemore supported Paul Bucher’s opponent in the Republican primary for State Attorney General.

Pridemore ousted the district incumbent in 2004. He won the 3 way Republican primary by about 200 votes. His platform was primarily TABOR related, and TABOR is yesterday’s news.

I’m betting you’ll be hearing an announcement soon. It’s fund raising time.

This is the first I’ve heard of this rumor, but Cindy makes a decent case for it.  I’m not sure if this is Cindy engaging in some raw speculation or is she’s actually heard something from the Bucher camp.  Regardless, this would be a very bad idea.  Let’s look at some history…

Cindy points out that Don won in a three-way primary “by about 200” votes but the fact is, Pridemore beat a RINO incumbent Republican.

What’s Bucher’s electoral history in the 99th?  Van Hollen beat him in the 99th AD getting 53% of the vote. In fact, Bucher, who was the long-time DA of Waukesha County, lost the Waukesha County portion of the 99th Assembly District getting 49% of the vote.

Primaries matter, and they are often decided by a few hundred votes. The man who lost his primary in the 99th by 244 votes should be very careful challenging the guy who defeated an incumbent Republican by 200 votes in a primary. In simple math, that puts Bucher behind in a primary.

Despite my recent criticism of Pridemore on an issue, he is a good conservative who represents his district well.  Pridemore has taken tough votes against spending and taxes. In the meantime, Bucher put his name on the line to back a liberal judge for the circuit court who lost handily against another liberal.

Go ahead Paul – bring it. In the meantime, Cindy - check your sources.

UPDATE: I have it from a reliable source that Bucher is not intending on running for this seat.