Tracy Potter said he is the candidate who can put an end to the 18-0 lead the Republicans have in Bismarck and Mandan in legislative seats.

"Sometime, somewhere, some candidate has to end that shutout,"Potter said.

Potter, executive director of the Fort Abraham Lincoln Foundation, announced Monday that he is seeking the Democratic endorsement to run for the Senate in Bismarck's District 35.

The seat is held by Republican Ed Kringstad, who has held it since 1995 and plans to run for re-election.

Potter said he wants a budget surplus, estimated to be more than $200 million in 2007, to be spent on K-12 education so there is less reliance on using property taxes to fund education.

"With a $200 millionsurplus in the treasury, the next (legislative) session should provide immediate relief for property taxpayers in North Dakota by increasing state aid to education," Potter said.

He also said he would advocate legislation that requires property tax relief be passed on to renters.

"Fairness requires that property tax relief extend to renters, as well as homeowners,"Potter said. "Property taxes are figured into rent today, and when a landlord gets a break, his renters should too. That's fairness."

Potter, 55, ran unsuccessfully for a seat in Legislature in Grand Forks when he was 22 years old. A Feb. 11 article in the Tribune had incorrectly reported that Potter ran in District 35 in 1972.

Potter also said he would like to see the renewable energy industry developed more by requiring the the oil and gas industry to help pay for renewable initiatives.

Potter said he can't make many promises because if he wins he will be a freshman Democrat in a Republican-dominated Legislature.

Overall, 15 of 47 senators are Democrats and 27 of 94 house members are Democrats. All four of Bismarck's legislative districts and District 34 in Mandan are held by Republicans.

Potter is a Bismarck native who holds both a bachelor's degree and master's degree in history from the University of North Dakota.

(Reach reporter Tom Rafferty at 223-8482 or tom.rafferty@;bismarcktribune.com.)