![\"DavisWilskeWeb\"](\"https:\/\/sduptownnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/DavisWilskeWeb.jpg\")
<\/a>Which means that the 53rd District race between Rep. Susan Davis (D) and Republican Larry Wilske has received little media attention; in fact, almost none.<\/p>\n
Davis is a seven-term incumbent in the seat, and Wilske is a retired Navy SEAL command master chief \u2014 and a Mission Hills resident \u2014 making his first effort at elected office.<\/p>\n
The differences between the two are very much what you\u2019d expect, given their backgrounds and political affiliations.<\/p>\n
Wilske\u2019s website features endorsements almost exclusively from what would be considered the conservative right of the political spectrum.<\/p>\n
Davis\u2019s are from what would be seen as the liberal left.<\/p>\n
But both candidates say they\u2019re striving to appeal to the middle as much as possible.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve always been one to reach across the aisle to the other side,\u201d Davis said. \u201cI think that over the years, you tend to build connections and contacts that will allow things to get done. Sometimes those things don\u2019t get much media attention, but they get done anyway. I don\u2019t yell and scream about things like some do. I just try to sit down and talk. You\u2019d be surprised how well that works, even in today\u2019s Congress.\u201d<\/p>\n
What motivated Wilske to challenge a popular incumbent, especially in a district where that incumbent\u2019s party enjoys a more than 50,000 voter registration advantage?<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m a patriot, first of all. I\u2019m not a Tea Party tool, as some people have called me,\u201d Wilske said. \u201cI believe in getting things done by working with all people. What\u2019s needed in Washington right now is leadership, and I just don\u2019t see leadership coming from Susan Davis. If I learned anything over 30 years as a Navy SEAL with 14 combat deployments, it\u2019s how to lead.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wilske is in a position where he has to attack Davis in order to gain traction. Davis, on the other hand, doesn\u2019t see much reason to attack Wilske. In fact, in a half-hour interview for this story, she never once mentioned his name.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s worth noting that money is a factor here. The last reporting period showed $440,040 in her campaign account, with more coming if needed. Democrats will do what they need to do to protect this seat.<\/p>\n
Wilske, at last report, had $145,946 in his account, much of it in the form of a $105,000 personal loan from himself to his campaign. In other words, he\u2019s basically self-funded.<\/p>\n
He is the candidate endorsed by the county Republican Party. I asked him how much campaign money came with that endorsement.<\/p>\n
\u201cZero,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Wilske is in a steep, steep uphill battle, and he knows it.<\/p>\n
So does his opponent.<\/p>\n