Political advice from someone who's been there

Remembering the Third District congressional race of 1974, D0n Blank of McCook offers some words of warning for the five men who have already announced their candidacy for the Republican congressional nomination in 2006:

"Watch out for a woman candidate."

Dr. Blank speaks from experience. In 1974, he was one of eight candidates seeking to replace Dave Martin of Kearney. Seven of the candidates for the Republican nomination were men and one, Virginia Smith of Chappell, was a woman.

How did the race turn out? You guessed it. The woman, Virginia Smith, won, and went on to a long career in congress.

Blank, a McCook dentist and former state Jaycee president, ran a strong second, finishing only 119 votes behind Mrs. Smith. There were many factors which determined the outcome, but Blank believes the difference-maker was the fact that Smith was the only woman in the race.

In the early stages of the campaign both Blank and Smith were underdogs, with State Sen. Jerry Stromer regarded as the early favorite. The field also included a state senator from North Platte, a real estate executive from Grand Island and a former veterinarian.

But Blank and Smith emerged due to widespread contacts and energetic campaigning. At this stage, it's difficult to pick a favorite in the race to be the Republican party's Third District candidate in 2006. Mayor Jay Vavricek of Grand Island announced his candidacy Wednesday. Other candidates who had announced previously are State Sen. Adrian Smith of Gering, former Osborne aide John Hanson, Kearney substitute teacher Doug Polk and Yale graduate David Harris of Kilgore.

Conspicuously absent -- up to this point -- is a woman candidate. But with more than six months to go before the filing deadline, that could change. If it does -- based on the experience of 1974 -- Blank believes the right female candidate would have to be regarded as a serious contender for the nomination.