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Adelstein, Katus to square off in District 32
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Two years ago, Stan Adelstein asked the Republican voters of District 32 to cross party lines and vote for Democratic Senate candidate Tom Katus.
Now Adelstein is asking those same voters to come home – to him and the Republican Party – as he begins his campaign to regain the District 32 state Senate seat he helped Katus win in 2006.
As a first-term incumbent senator two springs ago, Adelstein lost a bristly Republican primary to Elli Schwiesow. He then toyed with the idea of switching parties and accepting an offer by Katus to relinquish his spot on the Democratic ticket.
Adelstein decided to remain Republican but endorsed and supported Katus in his campaign against Schwiesow. That support and crossover Republican votes in the strong GOP district were crucial to Katus’ win.
“That’s what Katus told me after the campaign,” Adelstein said. “He said, based on what he heard going door to door, he was capturing every Adelstein Republican.”
Adelstein enjoyed his role in defeating his primary nemesis but never lost the legislative itch.
“I sort of feel like a player who was watching the game from the bench,” Adelstein said. “I didn’t get on the bench voluntarily, but while I was there I learned a lot. I’m anxious to play again.”
There’s a catch, of course. Katus is now the incumbent senator. He likes the game, too. And he’s ready to battle his former political benefactor in order to stay in.
Katus has already done some footwork in District 32 to “top off my nominating petitions” and begin a campaign based heavily on personal contacts. Katus won’t have the financial resources to match Adelstein in paid advertising but hopes to win the war of grass-roots organization and door-to-door contacts.
“I expect he’ll probably buy a great deal of advertising,” Katus said. “Door to door requires a great deal of tenacity and energy, and I’ve never seen that as his style. He’s always tried to overwhelm with the media and advertising.”
Adelstein admits he might have overemphasized paid media at the expense of personal contacts in a 2006 primary that cost him $100,000. This campaign will be a better blend of the two, he said.
“I’m planning on a much smaller budget. I intend to go door to door, because I really enjoy that,” he said. “And I’m planning to spend more time discussing very specific detailed legislation that I would like to see passed -- and probably can, given the new leadership in the Senate and being part of the majority caucus.”
Adelstein considers Senate Republican leader Dave Knudson and assistant leader Tom Dempster, both of Sioux Falls, to be his “two closest friends in the Legislature.” That connection could be an important benefit to District 32 if Knudson and Dempster are re-elected and back in leadership roles, Adelstein said.
Dempster has one potential complication. He didn’t make the ballot because of technical problems with his nominating petitions. Dempster is considering an appeal, or possibly an Independent candidacy for the state Senate from District 9.
Katus said he won’t back away from the debate when it comes to legislative influence. With gains in the 2006 election, Democrats now hold 15 of the 35 Senate seats. Katus said the party could easily pick up the three seats needed to give it an 18-17 majority, something the Democrats haven’t had since the early 1990s.
“I don’t think there’s any question that there’s real momentum there for the Democrats,” Katus said.
Adelstein disagrees with Katus on that, saying he expects the Republicans to hold and possibly add to their majority in the Senate. But when Adelstein disagrees with Katus, he does so gently. And he admits affection for his opponent.
“I like him a lot, yes,” Adelstein said.
He also is uncomfortable with labeling the campaign as a clash between him and Katus.
“I really want to emphasize that I’m running for the seat, I’m not running against anyone,” Adelstein said. “I don’t think I’ve done anything in the last two years to cause those Republicans who switched, because of my endorsement, not to come back to me.”
The race is one of several attention-getters in western South Dakota. A number of noted Republicans face primary challenges and several veteran lawmakers are retiring early. One of those leaving on his own terms is District 35 state Sen. Bill Napoli, R-Rapid City, an outspoken Adelstein critic who had a more positive connection with Katus.
“If I understand people as well as I think I do, I think Katus is going to win that seat hands down,” Napoli said. “I like the guy. He’s just a good South Dakotan, with a good record.”
Katus said he and Napoli are “grass-roots people” who cooperated on a number of issues important to Rapid City and constituents in both of their districts.
“Bill and I got along pretty well in the Senate,” Katus said. “I think up close he’s a little bit different guy than he sometimes appears to be.”
When asked if he thought Napoli would work against him in the District 32 campaign, Adelstein said: “I have no idea. I don’t think I ever understood that gentleman. And I don’t think I understand him any better now.”
But Adelstein does think he understands the voters of District 32. He’ll have a chance to prove it in the coming months, in a campaign likely to involve more handshakes and fewer dollars.
That’s a game Katus is ready to play.
Contact Kevin Woster at 394-8413 or kevin.woster@rapidcityjournal.com
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