The race for Story County’s Democratic candidate in the Senate may be close this year, but an endorsement by incumbent Sen. Johnie Hammond may give candidate Karen Bolluyt an advantage over Herman Quirmbach.

“Within the Senate district that I represent, I think there is more likely to be a successful outcome if Karen is the candidate, but that’s just my judgment,” said Hammond, D-Ames.

She said her endorsement of Bolluyt was based on style rather than Bolluyt’s political stance, since she and Quirmbach have relatively similar positions on issues.

“The style, as I see it, of Karen is more likely to succeed with the range of people we have here in the Senate,” Hammond said.

Hammond was rather humble about the effects the endorsement may have on the race for the Democratic seat.

“In general I don’t think what one person says about another candidate should prevail,” she said. “I don’t give myself that much power that I can persuade other people.”

Because of his involvement with the City Council and his established recognition, Quirmbach has a slight advantage, Hammond said.

“If [my endorsement] will help people to check into Karen and what she stands for and what she’s like then it’s worthwhile,” she said.

Quirmbach, professor of economics, said he wasn’t concerned about the effects of Hammond’s support of Bolluyt on his campaign, and that he was going to focus on working on his own campaign, rather than worrying about that of the other candidates.

“I’m very happy with the progress of my campaign,” he said. “The Bolluyt campaign announced the endorsement of one person, I announced the endorsement of 200,” he said.

Quirmbach said he thought Hammond’s endorsement was mostly due to the fact that Bolluyt is a woman.

“Johnie told me a year ago that she wanted a woman to succeed her, and her endorsement was not a surprise,” he said. “That was long before Karen Bolluyt was on the scene.”

Hammond said her support of Bolluyt has little to do with Bolluyt being a woman.

Three female senators will be retiring from the legislature after this term, and only four women are running in the Democratic caucuses, she said.

“If I wanted a woman to replace me I would have endorsed Barbara Finch,” she said.

Hammond said the fact that a female Democrat is running for her old seat in the Senate, however, does make her happy.

“Women have something to contribute to the process, sometimes a different way of thinking, different questions to ask,” Hammond said. “I think that’s important, but it’s not the only thing that is important.”

Bolluyt, former director of college relations for the College of Agriculture, said she does not think Hammond’s endorsement has anything to do with her gender.

“I think Johnie cares very much about having good legislators for Iowa, and she surely would not choose a successor based primarily on gender,” she said.

The support from Hammond has already had an effect on her campaign in a positive manner, Bolluyt said, as she has received contacts from many of Hammond’s friends and supporters offering support for her campaign.

“Johnie has earned so much affection and respect during her service that surely it will at the very least cause people to take a close look at my campaign,” she said.

“I’m real pleased. I know that a lot of people think a great deal of Johnie, so her endorsement is important.”