Richard “Skip” Daum has announced his candidacy for California’s 1st Senate district.

The Truckee resident has worked as a lobbyist in Sacramento for more than 25 years.

Daum, who is running for elected office for the first time, calls himself an independent Republican candidate.

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“I’ve been representing people for 26 years,” Daum said.

Daum’s lobbying firm, Capitol Communications in Sacramento, represents the Tahoe Truckee Homeowner’s Association, trade associations and other groups.

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“We’re not ideologues,” said Daum. “We craft legislative solutions.”

Daum said public schools need to be accountable to parents, and that options such as charter school and home schools need to be protected.

From Daum’s standpoint, “Public education is absolutely the No. 1 issue.”

Infrastructure development, water rights, public safety and economic and environmental balance are other key issues to Daum.

He also favors a return to a citizens legislature, in which elected officials would serve only part time. He said the system now is “too partisan.”

George Osborn, who was managing the late Bernie Richter’s campaign, is now campaign manager for Daum. Osborn said a head-to-head debate in January with Assemblyman Rico Oller, who leads all 1st Senate district candidates in fund raising, is likely.

About $100,000 has been raised in the last 10 days, mostly from individual contributors, said Osborn. About $600,000 to $700,000 will need to be raised to run an effective campaign, he added.

Osborn said campaign dollars left over from the Richter campaign will likely go to charities selected by Richter’s widow, Mary.

Daum, 54, has been married for 22 years and has two children. He is a retired Air Force captain.