Tuesday Week 2 Iowa Candidates

Lensing, Willems File Tuesday

Two greater Johnson County area legislators filed for re-election Tuesday.

Freshman Nate Willems (D-Lisbon) was a solid winner in 2008 when Ro Foege stepped down in House District 29 (half Linn, half Johnson). Republican Shawn Graham of Springville has announced but not yet filed.

My rep, Vicki Lensing (D-Iowa City, basically the east side) is seeking a sixth term in House District 78. Lensing last had an opponent of any sort in the 2000 general election.

Elsewhere around the state:

Last September, Fairfield was the center of Iowa's political universe with the House District 90 special. Democrat Curt Hanson won, but with less than 50 percent. He's now filed for his first full term; between this race and Senate 45 (Becky Schmitz vs. probably Sandy Greiner), Jefferson County will once again be hot this fall.

Staci Appel (D-Ackworth) makes the re-election bid official in Senate District 37. She's high on the GOP target list as first term GOP Rep. Kent Sorenson is challenging.

One of 2008's narrowest winners, Chris Hagenow (R-Windsor Heights) filed Tuesday. Hagenow beat top-priority Dem Jerry Sullivan by 93 votes in an open seat race.

Democratic freshman Phyllis Thede, after narrowly losing a 2006 Senate race to Dave Hartsuch, came back to knock off incumbent Jamie (the younger) Van Fossen with 56% in `08; she's filed for term two in House District 81. Her husband David Thede has announced a run against Hartsuch this time; maybe they can print last-name-only yard signs and split the bill. Someone check with Charlie Smithson at IECDB for the ruling on that one.

Clinton businessman and former school board member David Rose filed as a Republican in House District 26, where Democrat Polly Bukta is retiring. He's expected to face attorney Mary Wolfe, who's running with Bukta's support.

Republican Tom Sands had a closer than usual race in 2008 as Frank Best held him to 53% in Louisa-centered House District 87. Sands filed again and has apparently moved from Columbus Junction to Wapello. He's held the seat since redistricting in 2002.

Rep. Mark Smith (D-Marshalltown) filed again in House District 43. Republican Jane Jech (43% in 2008) is again challenging but not yet filed.

Nancy Boettger (R-Harlan) is running again in sprawling five-plus county Senate District 29; she was unopposed in 2006 and an easy winner in 2002. One thing to remember about senators, just as an aside: redistricting means that the senators elected to "four" year terms this year could be on the ballot again in 2012, depending on how the deck gets shuffled.

House incumbents filing include, as I resort to a bulleted list:

Chuck Soderberg (R-LeMars, a three to one 2008 winner) in very very red House District 3;

Tom Schueller (D-Maquoketa, unopposed in 2008 and an easy winner in 2006) in House 25;

Erik Helland (R-Grimes, 61% in an 2008 open seat race) in House 69;

Beth Wessel-Kroeschell (D-Ames; 58% 2008) in House 45;

Jack Drake (R-Griswold, 59% last cycle) in District 57 and

Matt Windschitl (R-Missouri Valley), who hasn't seen a tough race since knocking off incumbent Paul Wilderdyke in the 2006 House 56 primary.

Other notes: Charlotte Eby tweets and the Reg elaborates that conservaDem Dolores Mertz is retiring. A GOP primary had already emerged: former Pocahontas County Republican chair and tea party favorite Tom Shaw (who originally announced as an independent) vs. 2008 nominee Stephen Richards, who lost to Mertz by just 43 votes. The primary winner probably takes it, so the Dems lose a vote for control... and not much else.

And of course everyone in the state is all over the shuffling in Sioux City, as the entire legislative delegation simultaneously decides not to run again.

A correction from yesterday: At some point, somehow, with no good reason, I got it in my brain that Kevin McCarthy wasn't running again, and unfortunately that idea left my brain via my keyboard. My bad. Kevin did draw an opponent yesterday, but considering his 64% win over a former legislator last time, it's a pretty safe bet he'll still be around next January.

Meanwhile, if these daily updates run a bit later in the evening, or even show up in the morning, just picture me quadruple-checking stuff.

Monday Iowa candidate filing

Northey Leads Monday's Filing

The most recognizable names to file today are a pair of Republicans: Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey and House Minority leader Kraig Paulsen (R-Hiawatha) in House District 35. Northey listed an Urbandale address on the papers; when first elected in 2006 he listed Spirit Lake as home. How can you keep `em down on the farm after they've seen Des Moines?

My local readers will also note that Rep. Mary Mascher (D-Iowa City) filed in House District 77 (downtown and west side).

I was off the grid Friday afternoon, but I didn't miss much. Plenty of other people noticed that despite my best efforts, Leonard Boswell filed for another term. State treasurer Mike Fitzgerald also filed. The first two Fridays of filing season are quiet, as the legislators leave town late Thursday. Deadline Friday (March 19 this year), in contrast, is always always always the single busiest day. (I remember my legislative politics professor back in my undergrad days saying legislators and college students had a lot in common: they do the assignment at the last minute. He must have seen a couple of our end of session all-nighters.)

That said, on with the updates.

Keosauqua businessman Randy Besick is the first to file in Senate District 45's expected Republican primary, but that seems like a mere footnote as former legislator Sandy Greiner announces. Bleeding Heartland has a must-read overview of the race. KCII Radio in Washington notes that two others are announced: Rick Marlar of Wayland and perennial candidate Dan Cesar.

The primary winner takes on first term Sen. Becky Schmitz (D-Fairfield), who also filed Monday. Schmitz knocked off Republican Dave Miller in 2006 in a district that runs from the Iowa City limits to the Missouri border. Schmitz's 184 vote margin puts her high on the target list.

Greiner's not alone on the comeback trail. Remember back in 2006 how much all the Iowa lefty bloggers thought congressional candidate Selden Spencer had a real shot in the 4th CD against Tom Latham? (While everyone except me ignored Dave Loebsack?) And how Spencer started, then abandoned, a 2008 run? Well now the doctor (D-Huxley) has his sights set on the legislature instead, filing today in House District 10, now held by Dave Deyoe.

He hasn't filed yet, but former Senate leader and RPI chair Stu Iverson is getting ready to challenge two term District 9 Rep. McKinley Bailey (D-Webster City) one of the "six pack" of more conservative Dems who blocked labor's bills last year. Bailey filed Monday.

Over at Iowa Republican, Krusty Konservative calls Stu an "idiot" today:

"Is there really nobody else that we could run in that seat? Is Stu the best we can do?

I’ll predict McKinley Bailey will win re-election this November. I think that the six-pack of pro-business Democrats are probably the toughest to run against for any Republican, let a lone a guy who was kicked to the curb in the State Senate.

Iverson is going to look like an idiot when he loses to Bailey in November."

That hasn't stopped George Eichhorn, who Bailey knocked off in 2006, from running for US Senate in 2008 and Secretary of State this cycle... [/tangent]

Two other six-packers drew Republican opponents (none of those primary challengers we heard about yet...) Brian Quirk (D-New Hampton) will face Spillville mayor Michael Klimesh, who filed as a Republican in House District 15, mostly in Howard and Chickasaw counties.

And up in House District 8 (Pocahontas, Humboldt, part of Kossuth), Republican Stephen Richards will try again. Richards lost to the most conservative Dem in the House, Dolores Mertz, by only 43 votes in 2008.

Here's another familiar name: Democrat Kurt Hubler, who lost by less than 400 votes to turncoat ex-Dem Doug Struyk (R-Council Bluffs) in 2008, will try again in House 99. Kurt's dad Rob Hubler, who lost the 5th Congressional race to Steve King last cycle, just signed on with Francis Thicke's Secretary of Agriculture campaign.

We'll see a GOP primary in House District 75 for the right to challenge two-term Democrat Eric Palmer. Grinnell city council member Larry Wilson filed last week. Today retired Marine Gen. Guy Vander Linden of Oskaloosa joined the race. Vander Linden's duties included piloting presidential helicopter Marine One in the Reagan and Bush 41 era.

Another Republican pilot on the ballot is Bill Yewell of Ogden, who was Friday's lone down-ballot candidate to file. He's challenging Rep. Donovan Olson (D-Boone, here's the obligatory Minutemen reference).

Ed O'Neill, chosen successor to retiring Clinton Democrat Roger Stewart, makes it official and turns in the papers in Senate District 13.

Republican Larry Sheets will challenge Democrat Kurt Swaim (D-Bloomfield) in House District 94 (David, Appanoose and Wayne Counties). Sheets is on the Moulton-Udell school board.

Pella adoption activist Marc Held will try again in House District 71. He primaried Republican incumbent Jim Van Engelenhoven in 2008 but polled only 28 percent.

Republican Jeremy Walters filed in Des Moines' House District 67. Democratic Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy won big over former one-term legislator Larry Disney two years ago. (Note: At some point somehow I got it in my brain that Kevin wasn't running again, and unfortunately that idea got posted. My bad...)

House 82 incumbent Linda Miller (R-Bettendorf) also filed Monday. Miller beat incumbent Joe Hutter twice in 2006: once in the primary and again in the general when Hutter ran as an independent. After that drama, Miller was unopposed in both June and November 2008.

Three other incumbents who won easily in 2008 filed again: David Tjepkes (R-Gowrie) in House District 50, Rick Olson (D-Des Moines) in House 68 and Mike Reasoner (D-Creston) in House 95.

Today was also day one of the filing window for county offices; that deadline is March 31. No action here in Johnson County.

Late Linux Monday

Late Linux Monday

Your open source clips for the week focus on Linux in government:

Vermont is looking to expand its use of open source software:

Tucker said his department will put the policy into practice when it comes time to update the state's e-mail system, which is currently running on Microsoft Exchange 2007. The state will consider proprietary software, cloud e-mail and open source solutions...

"Quite frankly, we sometimes get criticized for the money we spend on proprietary software and there are certainly people in the IT community who work for the state of Vermont who have a viewpoint that there should be more use of open source."

And while I hate to open the voting equipment can of worms (I've always felt registration law and voter file management are a bigger issue, though I've mellowed some since Iowa passed election day registration), I will note that Victoria state, Australia is moving to a Linux-based system.

Linux really IS communism: North Korea has its own distribution. "The install disc even gives a quote from Kim Jong-il about how important for DPRK is to have its own Linux-based operating system compatible with Korean traditions." Linux is all about free choices, so this isn't really in the spirit, though it is technically Linux in government. Best comnments: 1) "Computers to run it on would be nice. 2) "Food would be better."

Finally, deviating from the theme of the week, here's a good beginner's guide to the three main families of Linux distributions.

Special Reshapes Primary

Johnson County Special Reshapes June Primary

Johnson County Democratic primaries are essentially local elections. The classic case in point was 1998, when 1000 more votes were case for county recorder than for governor.

But our local battles ripple through state Democratic nomination politics. We've had years where Johnson County has had the highest Democratic primary turnout in the state. Not just percentage--I mean more Democratic primary voters by raw number than much larger Polk County.

2006 was a record-setter in Johnson County. For most Iowa Democrats it was about Blouin vs. Culver vs. Fallon, but Johnson County was all about an open-seat county attorney's race and the hard fought supervisor race where Larry Meyers knocked off incumbent Mike Lehman.

Meyers' death last September started the chain of events that led to Janelle Rettig's January special election win. Rettig's earlier than expected incumbency reshapes the June Johnson County primary and sends a ripple through the whole state.

A year ago, the Johnson County supervisor primary looked like a wide-open contest for two open seats. Meyers was telling supporters he planned to seek a second term, his health problems left the question open. Meanwhile, retirement rumors were buzzing around four term incumbent Sally Stutsman. Rettig's campaign was up and flying even before Meyers' death.

But now, Rettig is an incumbent coming off three wins: the appointment, the Democratic convention, and the special election itself. And Stutsman has decided to seek re-election.

There still may be a primary challenge, of course; there's plenty of precedent for that in Johnson County. Historically, our supervisor fights have been duked out in Democratic primaries, not in general elections. But this time it seems like the local conservatives have decided to run under the GOP label, with self-funder Lori Cardella (again) and self-starter Chad Murphy.

Meanwhile, a few conservaDems who sat on the fence in the special, waiting to see the margin, have to contend with the reality that Rettig pulled Obama-like percentages in the Democratic strongholds. They probably didn't want see Cardella actually in government, but quite a few would have liked a weak Rettig win to set her up for primary vulnerability.

It's not a done deal; the special election returns showed a huuuge urban vs. rural gap, at least on county issues. (Those percentages roughly corresponded to the split on the 2008 conservation bond, and that didn't seem to ripple into Obama, Harkin, or Loebsack's numbers.)

But the dynamic has shifted from two open seats to two incumbents seeking re-nomination, either as favorites or without opposition. When you've been the nominee once, it's that much easier to get primary voters to choose you again.

This ripples through the state, and likewise the state dynamic ripples through the county.

Iowa is what I call closed primary lite: you have to be registered with a party to vote in a primary, but you can change party at the polls. But the one way in which the primary is truly closed is that you only get one party's ballot. Sometimes that means voters have to make a strategic choice. What's more important: a "tantamount to election" Democratic county race, or the white-hot Republican governor primary? The gubernatorial primary is a big draw, which disadvantages a conservaDem primary candidate who might draw "Democrat for a day" crossover votes from Republicans.

So anyone looking at the local race needs to factor that in. Let's say no one does. A Johnson County primary with no contested courthouse races lowers turnout and shifts some people into the Republican governor's race and out of the Democratic U.S. Senate race.

Terry Branstad never did well in Johnson County primaries, but it's, um, been a while. He only took 38% in his 1978 (!) lieutenant governor primary, and lost to Fred Grandy in the epic Gopher Primary of 1994. As for BVP, he was third in 2002, and his 28% was a touch below his statewide percentage.

Over on the Democratic side, Tom Fiegen represented a tiny sliver of the county for a couple years, but faced some bumps in the road back then from party activists over choice issues. Choice was an epic issue in the 1990 Democratic governor primary, but times have changed enough that anyone for whom right to life (sic) and the other cluseter of social issues are the top priority will to be over in that Republican governor primary.

The Senate primary is still taking shape, so it's hard to say who's helped or hurt by lower Democratic Johnson County turnout. Roxanne Conlin took 65% here in her three-way 1982 primary, back when the Human League ruled the planet. An exodus of conservaDems to the GOP primary may help her percentage, but reduces the overall numbers.

Anyway, as a general All Politics Is Local principle, the three contenders would be well advised to watch local races at filing time and ration the April and May campaign stops accordingly. The lack of a hot, turnout-boosting local race may mean we see less of the Senate contenders.

As for the big picture in the Senate race, Chuck Grassley looks less vulnerable than he did a few months ago, but there's still a lot of time for the national climate to turn around. Not to mention, 52 years of incumbency is a lot of baggage to carry this particular year. What did Greg Ganske ever do with that `58 Studebaker?

March Johnson County Democrats

March Johnson County Democrats

No liveblog from Democratic Central Committee as the Coralville Library's wifi didn't connect. Highlights:

Couple dozen folks on hand, Only electeds: supervisors Rod Sullivan and Janelle Rettig.

County convention prep for March 13.

I announce a county filing deadline day fundraiser at the Mill. March 31, 4:30 to 6:30.

We're also planning a pre-primary event for the evening of June 5.

Dan Tallon talks about Don't Ask Don't Tell.

Rod Sullivan and Chris Forbes give spirited pep talks.

A hat (not the beret) gets passed.

Rathje, Batcher lead Thursday Filing

Rathje first to file in 2nd CD

Steve Rathje is the first of four likely candidates to file for the June 8 2nd Congressional District primary, topping Thursday's filing list.

Rathje, a Cedar Rapids businessman, came in third in the 2008 U.S. Senate primary. That primary's winner, Christopher Reed, is also running in the 2nd District, along with 2008 congressional nominee Mariannette Miller-Meeks and first-time candidate Rob Gettemy. Winner takes on Dave Loebsack.

In the 3rd District, Scott Batcher is the first to file in a crowded GOP primary for the right to oppose Leonard Boswell.

First term Rep. Kent Sorensen (R-Indianola) makes his challenge to Sen. Stacy Appel official. The no-holds-barred conservative won some attention last year complaining that Chuck Grassley wasn't conservative enough. Sorensen is also likely to tie Sen. Appel to her husband, Supreme Court justice Brent Appel, and the marriage equality issue.

Grinnell city council member Larry Wilson filed as a Republican in House District 75. This has been a hot seat the last couple cycles. Democrat Eric Palmer knocked off Danny Carroll in 2006 and held off the comeback effort in 2008.

Looks like another hot primary in Scott County's 41st Senate District. Conservative Dave Hartsuch knocked off longtime moderate incumbent Maggie Tinsman in the 2006 primary, then ran for Congress in 2008, losing to Rep. Bruce Braley by a wide margin. Thursday, Roby Smith (who lost a state House race in the 2006 general) filed to primary Hartsuch. The Quad City Times has a nice background article on the wild and wooly 41st.

Also in Scott County, we'll see a second try by Republican Ross Paustian, who, in a top-tier race, tried and failed to knock off Elesha Gayman in House District 84 last time.

One I missed yesterday: Democrat Ron Fedler of West Point filed for a second run in Henry County dominated House District 91. This was supposed to be a sleeper race in 2008, but Fedler ran 2000 votes behind Republican Dave Heaton.

Jane Holody, an ag extension staffer and Tea Partier, is on the GOP ballot in Ottumwa's House District 93. Democrat Mary Gaskill (already filed) won with 75 percent against an independent candidate in 2008; before that her last opponent was in a close 2002 primary when the seat was open.

Incumbent Democrat Helen Miller (D-Ft. Dodge) filed in House District 49; she won with just under 60% in 2008. First-term Republican Peter Cownie of West Des Moines also filed in District 60.

Roxanne Conlin Iowa City Liveblog

Roxanne Conlin Iowa City Liveblog

Hola from Bob's Your Uncle on North Dodge Street in Iowa City, where Senate candidate Roxanne Conlin will be meeting and greeting and speaking soon.

5:14 and the candidate has just arrived. Some other honorables on hand: Senator Bob DVorsky, Regenia Bailey (the only city council member I'm not PO'd at) and Supervisor Sally Stutsman. The UDems are first in line for proprieter Randy Larson's finest pizza.


Conlin with Caitlin Ross of the UDems.

5:27 and Conlin is working the room; I've been worked and the medium of liveblogging is praised. She's been working the netroots herself, citing Daily Kos and Crooks and Liars. I get a laugh when I note that the laptop is Microsoft-free, but that ends our chat.

Conlin specifically seeks out the UDems and chats with them about best possible scheduling for an event before finals.

Other assorted knots of conversation are looking at legislative races (this event, and Johnson County Central Committee to follow, will delay my daily update).

Sue Dvorsky chats with a couple folks about the Iowa-Mississippi club; we drop some names of some of Iowa's almost coulda shoulda women winners. Sue was one of the earliest Obama backers and notes that he wasn't supposed to be able to win Iowa either.

5;45 and we're rolling. Sue handles the intros with her usual and looks forward to "the most exciting campaign in the last... two years."

Conlin's on and referencing herself as a "progressive, Democratic, feminist candidate."

"I want to go to Washington DC and represent the interest of the people of Iowa." Biographical stories about her impoverished youth. "There are people today in Iowa with no money and no insurance. That is immoral, it is not right to deny people health care because they don't have money."

"I will not be cold or hungry again, but as long as there are cold and hungry people in the US then I have a responsibility to speak up and do something about it. I have spent my life as an attorney speaking up for people who don't have a voice."

Microsoft suit "60 million dollars goes to K-12 to close the digital divide." ("Every now and then I hear that MS GAVE $60 million. Not really."

References the 1982 loss as "I was first runner up."

"Before I though about running, I tried to stop foreclosures in Iowa." Calls banks "tone deaf and arrogant" for the bonuses. "I got your money back from Microsoft, I'll get your money back from Wall Street."

Moves on to Grassley with a mock-gentle retirement nudge: "thank him for his 50 years of service and let him rest." Notes Chuck's approval under 50% for first time. "He's got corporations, but I've got all of you."

"Iowans need and deserve a US Senator who will put Main Street in front of Wall Street." (Tom Fiegen's populist rhetoric has been assimilated?) "If you help me, when I'm elected you will be proud."

That wraps the remarks, on to ???s at 6 straight up. Jobs are question one; she talks small investments and infrastructure. "Weatherization cannot be outsourced."

The 99 county tour has drawn "good and enthusiastic crowds, I have absolutely loved it." 2/3 done. "It has made me a better candidate and person."

Holly Hart asks nuke power: "I'm not too crazy about that" says Conlin to applause. Talks green energy: "we in Iowa are in such a great place for that."


Regenia Bailey, Roxanne Conlin, Sue Dvorsky

"Speaking of creation of energy," says Sue Dvorsky, who makes the volunteer pitch. Audience member references the date and says we will "March forth." Which reminds me of Jedi Day: May the 4th be with you.

Our crowd count is "in excess of 50" says Regenia Bailey. The little basket is full of envelopes, but this is only incidentally a fundraiser.

"Who are some of these new people?" wonders ex-chair Brian Flaherty, who goes to meet them. (Current Chair Dennis Roseman is also in the house.) 6:22 and Roxanne is still in the rolling conversation. Looks like she's getting ready to wrap, though; she says goodbye to her oldest grandson who's a UI senior. So I'll call it a wrap; tune in later tonight for central committee.

(And I didn't get any pizza till I got home.)