- Governor Reynolds engaging and vibrant
- Virtual no-show for governor candidate Corbett
- Ag Secretary candidates abound
- Telling reaction in 2nd CD U.S. House race?
- Anti-grassroots control plan repudiated in the home county of one of the champions
- Affirmative action – sex quotas “50-50 in 2020” did not fly
In sum last Saturday’s event was mildly encouraging for conservatives and grassroots activists because of what transpired including the undercurrents we noticed (interpretive stuff).
Secretary of State Paul Pate addresses Scott County Republican Convention
Attendance was OK given the attendees are theoretically at the county convention as a result of the official process that begins at the caucuses in early February. That was sparsely attended due to the snow storm, and it being a non-presidential with no vibrant state or local primary in the offing. Our estimate is about 80 or so were at the delegate tables at the county convention at any one time, with maybe 40 or so milling about, not all of whom would have been delegates.
The agenda of the county convention (and district and state for that matter) includes: intros, then a caucus report including nomination and selection of delegates to the district and state conventions. Speakers follow although they are accommodated as they appear as many are trying to do more than one county convention. The platform is the final major event.
The intros were appropriate including thanks to retiring County Treasure Bill Fennely. Bill is a great guy although we have had internal disagreements he was generally a conservative in his endorsements of legislators. Happy retirement Bill.
Chairwoman Greenlee was affable in her first convention as Chair. We will allow her accommodations to a certain element during the platform debate as no more than a general affability. Hers and the parliamentarian favored a certain amount of expeditious handling that can reasonably serve good-will rather than the often cumbersomeness of Roberts Rules.
Delegate vote
The delegate selection can be contentious and the powers that be had free rein to load the delegate/alternate nominations up given that the caucuses produced few affirmations for the positions available. There were 98 delegates nominated by the nominations committee (the composition of which presents an easily manipulable situation without better safeguards). They were approved without adjustment. That compares to 140 two years ago and where some pettiness seemed afoot. Alternates nominated by the committee numbered 26. They were approved along with 7 or 8 floor nominations to fill still open positions.
We do not have a well analyzed opinion of the compliment at this writing but are reasonably at ease. Noticeable by her absence from the list is previous Scott County Chairman Judy Davidson who is listed neither as delegate or alternate. We have no doubt that was by personal choice. Word is she is also not going to run for another term on the State Central committee. David Hartsuch, another member of the State Central committee from Scott County has decided not to seek reelection to that body. However he is listed as a district/state delegate.
Davidson and Hartsuch were on opposite ends of the matter of protecting the grassroots nature of determining delegate selection to the Republican National Conventions in presidential years. Hartsuch worked to protect the grassroots nature. Davidson worked to undermine it and her effort has for now succeeded although we hope it will be a major issue in the selection process for any of those who supported it as they seek reelection to the state central committee, the body that made the decision. Ms Davidson’s effort was interpretatively repudiated by the inclusion of a platform plank derived from a critique of her actions. See further explanation in Part 2.
Speakers – (random order, not all covered and more vignettes to be added)
Governor Reynolds was in attendance and gave an appropriate speech highlighting achievements and extolling Iowa and seeking support to continue her agenda. It is an agenda we find supportable with reservations in some areas ( we always have reservations). We think that she is conservative enough by comparison and the best chance for retaining the governorship and that is critical.
There was virtually no presence by Ron Corbett, the other candidate running for the Republican nomination for governor. He personally might have concentrated on other counties across the state as all occur on the same day but we saw no table, no campaign literature, and no stand-in to speak on his behalf at an appointed time. This a major county. There was a young man with a petition sheet for Corbett present but that was it. A gubernatorial candidate with nothing to show for himself at THE party event in a major county is going nowhere.
The Agriculture Secretary primary race presents an interesting scenario. There are four or five running for the nomination. Ray Gaesser (American Soybean Assoc Chair) Chad Ingels (Iowa Environmental Protection Commission Chair and watershed specialist), Craig Lang (Farm Bureau) Mike Naig (current Deputy Ag. Secretary) and Dan Zumbach (Senate Ag Committee Chair). If one does not get the statutory minimum in the June Republican primary the nomination will be decided at the Republican State Convention. In that case look for a lot of pickup trucks in the parking lot.
Ag Candidate Zumbach was present and we like what he had to say, his record as a state senator and that he has the support of State Rep Ross Paustian. Readers know we oppose RFS and wind subsidies/mandates all in the spirit of the Republican platforms but we also know we are not likely to get that from an Ag Secretary. And so it goes.
Paustian spoke as a candidate for reelection and was eminently likable and quotable when he said and warned that Democrats are “fired up and nuts.” His distaste for Cindy Winckler is much appreciated. Ross is “good people.”
Chris Cournoyer spoke as an announced candidate for the SD 49 now held by Democrat Rita Hart. She is the current Pleasant Valley School Board President. The only thing we remember from her presence was her advocacy for education funding and STEM (science technology engineering and math) study and facilitation, oh and her support for 50/50 in 2020 (see below). Other matters of importance did not seem to make the cut, even a generic “I am a conservative” would have at least given a hint to be verified in the course of the campaign. With the narrow focus of her speech we were compelled to view her campaign website for more useful information. We were disappointed in the pablum, and the absence of what she offers that is better than the Democrat holding the position . . . why Republicans should control the state senate . . . we know but does she? We hope for some decent elaboration to come. We note from her “bio” that she is a web site developer but that her web site shows it was produced by Victory Enterprises. Strange unless she works for them.
County Treasurer: Greg Guy was there to made a pitch for the nomination. He has a degree in accounting, is involved in finance, and his one-on-one meet the people presence was engaging. Mike Fennelly son of Bill is running, but was not present. His son Trevor spoke for dad but did not mention what kept the candidate away. Mike needs to be at every event as he missed a lot of hands to shake when it is a competitive primary.
Installment two –– in coming days — the 2n district congressional primary race and some other vignettes including as regards the platform
R Mall
