A war veteran who lost his legs in Iraq is now running for public office. Sgt. John Kriesel says he'll run as a Republican for the House of Representatives District 57 seat, representing Cottage Grove, St. Paul Park and South St. Paul. It's the seat now held by (Democrat) Karla Bigham who announced she won't seek re-election this fall. Sgt. Kriesel lost both his legs in a blast near Fallujah, Iraq on December 2, 2006. The same blast that killed two of his best friends. His injuries resulted in 25 surgeries over the course of just two months.