Dan Soucek of Boone has announced he is running as a Republican candidate for the state senate seat currently held by Democrat Steve Goss.
Soucek announced Tuesday he will run for North Carolina's 45th Senate district in 2010, which includes Wilkes, Watauga, Ashe and Alexander counties.
"My life can best be characterized by two words, 'leadership and service,' and I feel the greatest contribution I can make right now is to serve in the North Carolina State Senate," Soucek said.
Soucek ran for the District 93 N.C. House of Representatives seat in 2008. He lost to Democrat Cullie Tarleton, 7,157 votes to 6,043, with Libertarian Jeff Cannon drawing 1,597 votes.
Soucek said he is running again because he senses a different political landscape.
"I think several things have changed," Soucek said. "The mood in the state and country have dramatically shifted In the last six months. People who have never been involved in politics have been a little frightened and worried and are asking 'What can we do?' Average, everyday working people are concerned and becoming involved."
Soucek said while some candidate names have been discussed by Republicans, he's not aware of any other announced candidates. "I'm going to spend 361 days working toward this goal," he said.
Soucek works for Samaritan's Purse in Boone and is a military veteran. N.C. Sen. Steve Goss is currently in his second term.