Former senator runs for old seat Gary Drzewiecki announces his candidacy for Wisconsin's 30th Senate District seat during a news conference Wednesday (photo by H. Marc Larson). Drzewiecki campaigns for 30th Senate district By Anna Krejci News-Chronicle A former state senator is running for the seat he lost in a close race against current Democratic Sen. Dave Hansen in 2000. Gary Drzewiecki, who served as the Republican senator in the 30th District from 1992-2000, highlighted key issues in his campaign, such as protecting citizens' rights to carry concealed weapons, during a news conference at the Brown County Courthouse on Wednesday. Crime rates in other states who allow it are low, he said. He also supports a state constitutional amendment to control government spending, although he said he couldn't say how or if he would make changes to current Taxpayer Bill of Rights legislation. Ultimately, taxpayers have to vote on proposed constitutional amendments and TABOR is something they need to decide, he said. "It (a constitutional amendment) is probably going to be the way we need to go. Politicians can't stop from spending," he said. Ridding citizens of high taxes is the key to improving the state's economy, he said. He said he would support the proposed constitutional amendment that would define marriage between one man and one woman and ban civil unions. "The constitution was certainly developed to uphold Christian principles. There would be no room for civil unions if you're upholding Christian principles, so that's not even on the table right now," he said. Drzewiecki described himself as being pro-constitution in the sense of protecting the lives of unborn children. His stance on the issues will fulfill promises that he said Hansen has not kept for constituents. Drzewiecki announced his candidacy while surrounded by his family, his wife and four children. He said he can identify with the average citizen who is concerned about out-of-control taxes. Since his defeat in 2000, he has been running the family farm, working in the business of insurance investments and selling used cars. Even though the race with Hansen was close in 2000 - Drzewiecki said he had 49.8 percent of the votes while Hansen had 50.2 percent - he said it is not the factor that is going to help him win now. "The only thing that will work to my advantage is that the voters are getting smarter," or better educated, he said. He said he has received positive feedback from people wishing he would run for the position. Drzewiecki said even though he lost in 2000, he had 3,000 more votes than he had in the 1996 election that he won. During the news conference, he referred to his voting record on the budget when he was senator as having been warped, but declined to expand on that statement.