Ron Volesky of Huron has taken the first official step in running for governor in 2010. Last week he filed his two-page statement of organization for the “Volesky for Governor” committee with the South Dakota Secretary of State office. Assuming that he sticks with his most recent affiliation, Volesky would be the second Democrat to file committee paperwork for governor. First in the race was Senate Democratic leader Scott Heidepriem of Sioux Falls. Both previously were Republicans and, in 1986, they were two of the four men seeking the Republican nomination for U.S. House of Representatives. Dale Bell of Spearfish won, Heidepriem placed second, and Volesky was fourth behind Don Frankenfeld of Rapid City. Bell lost to Democrat Tim Johnson in the general election that November. Bell was never heard from again in statewide politics, while Johnson has never lost a statewide race and is now in his third term as a U.S. senator.
Volesky, 55, is a lawyer with a storefront office in downtown Huron. He served six years in the state House as a Republican from 1981 through 1986. He later served eight more years in the House, as a Democrat, from 1993 through 2000. He also spent one term in the Senate, again as a Democrat, in 2001-2002. He was the Democratic candidate for state attorney general in 2002 and 2006, losing each time to Republican Larry Long.
