Tuesday, July 7, 2009 | 10:47 a.m.
CARSON CITY -- Ben Kieckhefer, a former press secretary to Gov. Jim Gibbons, has announced he will be a Republican candidate to succeed Sen. Randolph Townsend, who is barred from seeking re-election because of term limits.
Kieckhefer, 32, is running in District 4 in Washoe County, which covers much of the southern portion of the county, and has gained the support of some prominent politicians.
His kickoff fundraiser on July 22 has a host committee that includes Townsend, Senate Minority Leader Bill Raggio and Assembly Minority Leader Heidi Gansert, and Mayors Bob Cashell of Reno, Geno Martini of Sparks and Bob Crowell of Carson City.
Kieckhefer worked as a reporter for the Reno Gazette-Journal, the Associated Press and City News. After leaving journalism, he spent two years in public relations and then worked as communications director for Gibbons.
He is now the public information officer for the state Department of Health and Human Services and says he would resign upon election to avoid any potential conflict of interest.
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