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I have heard some poor arguments come from Republicans like Sen. Larry McKibben before, but trying to follow the logic on this last one was enough to give me a headache.

McKibben argued that the smoking ban would actually cause more health problems.

McKibben cited studies that he believes point to out that smokers may begin drinking in a bar, then drive to a casino to enjoy some more fellowship with friends while being allowed to smoke indoors. At the very least, McKibben believes it could put more intoxicated drivers on the road.

“We will have more accidents and more fatalities on Highway 30,” he said. “And families with children will be involved.”

However, even if the smoking ban applied to state casinos, it would not affect the casino nearest to Marshalltown, the Meskwaki Casino, as it is run by a Native American tribe and therefore not subject to the smoking ban.

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State Senator Larry McKibben (R-Marshalltown) has officially announced that he will not be running for re-election in Senate District 22 in Marshall and Hardin counties.

Last month, Iowa Politics ran a story saying that McKibben was contemplating retirement. Since then the speculation was that McKibben and the Republican Party were busy looking for someone else to run in his place. As of now there seems to be no candidate that is waiting in the wings to run for this seat.

That leaves Steve Sodders running on the Democratic side in a race that was decided by 800 votes in 2004. Sodders is a Deputy Country Sherriff and raised over $17,000 last fall.

After hearing that state Republicans will most likely not be putting as many resources into Senate races and the closeness of this District in 2004, this seat is looking like it will be a Democratic pickup come November.

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Iowa Politics has a story up about the possible retirement of State Senator Larry McKibben in Senate District 22.

Sen. Larry McKibben, R-Marshalltown, chose not to seek the Senate minority leader post in September because of work-related responsibilities. He said Thursday he hasn’t decided if his name will appear on the November ballot.

“I am talking it over with my family,” McKibben said. “I will make my decision in the next couple weeks.”

McKibben won reelection in 2004 by less than 800 votes, in a race where over $425,000 was spent. McKibben might not be looking forward to another long summer and fall on the campaign trail.

Democrats already have a candidate who announced his campaign for McKibben’s seat in Steve Sodders, a Deputy Sheriff in Marshall County. Sodders has been knocking on doors throughout the district this fall and has been working hard raising money. Sodders has two fundraisers coming up in the next few weeks.

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