Retired USS Cole commander Kirk Lippold to seek Heller’s seat

Associated Press

Thursday, April 14, 2011 | 8:28 a.m.

Retired Navy Cmdr. Kirk Lippold is sailing into the choppy waters of Nevada politics.

The former skipper of the USS Cole announced Thursday that he will seek the GOP nomination for Nevada's 2nd Congressional District held by Republican Rep. Dean Heller, who plans to run for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated next year by U.S. Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev.

Lippold, 51, who grew up in Carson City, said he wants to bring a new vision to Congress and would focus on reducing the national deficit, which he calls an issue of national security.

"After 26 years of service in the Navy, I moved back to Nevada and the pull to get back into the service of the nation was too strong," Lippold told The Associated Press. "The way you affect the national security and policy of the United States is through elected office."

Lippold joins Sharron Angle, who was the first to announce her intent in the Republican race. Angle ran for the U.S. Senate last year and lost to Democratic Majority Leader Harry Reid.

Other Republicans contemplating the race include Lt. Gov. Brian Krolicki, state GOP Chairman Mark Amodei and state Sen. Greg Brower. Possible Democratic contenders include former congressional candidate Jill Derby, state Assemblywoman Debbie Smith and state Treasurer Kate Marshall.

Lippold said he believes he would bring a fresh perspective to Washington and the halls of Congress, and described Angle and Krolicki as "old guard career politicians."

"I believe it is time for new blood," he said.

If elected, Lippold said he would work to "get government out of our lives and then come home."

The biggest issue facing the nation is its debt, and cutting government spending should take priority, he said. All options should be considered, including changes to Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare, Lippold said.

"The size and scope of the deficit is at the point where our national security is now being jeopardized," he said. "Quite frankly, our ability to safeguard our national interests are tied to what we can afford."

Lippold was commander of the USS Cole when the ship was attacked by terrorists in 2000 while in Aden harbor, Yemen. Seventeen sailors were killed. A Navy investigation concluded Lippold and his crew probably could not have prevented the attack.

Lippold retired from the Navy in 2007 and has been working with Military Families United.