TOPEKA — Calling Sam Brownback's election as Kansas' next governor premature, Kansas Democrats on Tuesday unveiled a candidate of their own: Tom Wiggans, a retired Olathe pharmaceutical executive.
Wiggans, 57, is a political newcomer largely unknown in the state he hopes to lead. A native of Fredonia, he returned to Kansas in January after a prominent career in the pharmaceutical industry in California. He is so far the only major Democratic candidate in the race.
Wiggans filed paperwork Tuesday allowing him to raise money for the 2010 race. He declined to comment publicly on his campaign, instead e-mailing a statement to reporters.
"Now more than ever as our state and our families deal with this difficult economic climate, we need a successful business leader in the Governor's office," Wiggans said in the statement."... Our state needs a Governor who can speak the language of business, jobs and prosperity — not a career politician."
Wiggans enters the race after two prominent Democrats, Gov. Mark Parkinson and state party chairman Larry Gates, opted not to run. Brownback, who's leaving the U.S. Senate, is the leading Republican candidate for the job.
Republicans said Democrats were desperate to find a willing candidate with the personal wealth to fund a campaign. They noted that Wiggans contributed thousands of dollars to Republican candidates while living in California and raised questions about his dedication to the Sunflower State.
http://www.kansas.com/news/story/1060361.html
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