Gainey to challenge Preston again for state House seat

City employee and city Democratic Committee chairman Ed Gainey will challenge State Rep. Joe Preston in a rematch of a hotly contested 2006 race.

Gainey, 41, of Lincoln-Lemington, lost to Preston, D-East Liberty, in the 2006 primary by 92 votes out of more than 7,000 ballots cast. Preston, 64, has served in the state House since 1983, and usually faces no general election challenge in the heavily-Democratic district.

Gainey is a former aide to Preston, and now works as a Community Development Specialist for Mayor Luke Ravenstahl.