Reznet

GOP candidate Steve Kirby is interviewed by a Sioux City, S.D., television reporter after losing the primary election for governor. Reznet photo by Erica D. Poolheco-Passmore

A Party Ends Early

By Sara M. Ortiz

SIOUX FALLS, S.D.-The red, white and blue "Steve Kirby for Governor" button lay on the floor of the hotel banquet hall, near a table of hardening cheese and stale crackers.

For Kirby, one of three Republican candidates running in the primary election June 4, the party was over before it really got started. Kirby and another favored candidate, Mark Barnett, lost by wide margins to underdog Mike Rounds.

Reporters, supporters and free-flowing alcohol filled the large banquet hall at the downtown Holiday Inn, where it became apparent soon after release of early returns that a celebration for Kirby was not going to happen. Kirby spoke at 9:30 p.m., effectively conceding defeat.

"Don't worry for a second about our party pulling together for the fall election," he said. "Ours is a party guided by principle, pride and personality, and (we) are easily re-directed toward a common goal.

"We remain a house undivided."

He recited poetry and then these parting words: "One must wait until the evening to see how splendid the day has become. ... I can say, without reservation, that the day was absolutely terrific."

"Yeah, it's 9:41 (and) he just gave his concession speech," said an older man in a pressed blue suit, face red, with a cellphone firm to his ear.

At 10:05, Kirby's press secretary, Kristin Scuderi, announced that with 68 percent of the polls reporting, "it looks like Rounds has won."

Asked about Kirby's plans for the future, Scuderi said the former lieutenant governor remained committed to public service.

"He will always give of himself," she said.

Suggesting that Kirby will remain influential within the party, Scuderi said, "His presence will be felt. ... He will help unite the party."

Scuderi added that Kirby most likely would return to his day job "in the private business sector."

Kaeleen McGuire reported the following from Sioux Falls:

His favorite candidate was defeated, but one Kirby supporter was still fired up.

Mark Lyons, a volunteer for the Kirby campaign, said he looked forward to a Republican victory in November.

"We need to pull strongly together to beat (Democratic nominee) Jim Abbott," Lyons said June 4 after the results showed Kirby had lost the gubernatorial race. "I think (GOP nominee) Mike Rounds can do it, if we all pull together."

Lyons, a programmer for Citibank in Sioux Falls, said he believes the big issues surrounding the fall election include education, prescriptions for seniors, and taxes.

In his concession speech, Kirby assured his disappointed supporters that Rounds would be the next governor of South Dakota. And he added:

"Guess what? We're still going to have a party!"

Sara M. Ortiz (Acoma Pueblo) and Kaeleen McGuire (Confederated Umatilla Tribes) are 2002 graduates of The Freedom Forum's American Indian Journalism Institute. Ortiz is a student at the Institute of American Indian Arts in Sante Fe, N.M., and McGuire is a student at Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colo.