Tuesday, May 22, 2012
The two Republicans are opponents on the June 5 primary election ballot. The winner of that contest will face Bruce Braley for the United States House of Representatives first district seat.
Who will you vote for - Rob Blum or Ben Lange? The two Republicans are opponents on the June 5 primary election ballot, both seeking to be the nominee for the United States House of Representatives First District seat. The first district includes Black Hawk County. The winner of that contest will face incumbent Democrat Bruce Braley in the November election. Blum and Lange squared off in a debate in Cedar Rapids last night, seeking to highlight contrasts between themselves and draw voters to their platform. Part of their argument centered around their relative ages and experience. Blum, 57, touted his experience as a businessman in Dubuque, saying he was a job creator who had created over 400 jobs. Lange, 33, said he can unite older and …
We'll be running profiles of all the candidates you'll have a chance to vote for in the June 5 primary. Today, our Q and A with Black Hawk County Supervisor John Miller, who is seeking re-election.
Name: John Miller Age: 68 Political party: Democrat Running for: Re-election for Black Hawk County Supervisor Family: Spouse, Karen, daughter and son-in-law Shanlee and Sean McNally, grandchildren, Jack, Parker and Anna Occupation: Semi-retired farmer, teacher, Congressional aide, Regional Administrator for FEMA and consultant 1. Why did you decide to run for office? Local government has big impact on people. I think my experiences and contacts are an asset in making local government work effeciently and effectively. I like the challenge of working together to make government work. 2. What issues do you want to address if elected? With all the cut-backs coming from Des Moines and Washington, I think that local governments will have a big …
Monday, May 21, 2012
We'll be running profiles of all the candidates you'll have a chance to vote for in the June 5 primary. Today, our Q and A with Black Hawk County Supervisor Tom Little, who is seeking re-election.
Name: Tom Little Age: 59 Political party: Democrat Running for: Re-election for Black Hawk County Supervisor Family: Wife Janice, married 39 years, 3 children, 6 grandchildren Occupation: Retired John Deere, current Black Hawk County Supervisor 1. Why did you decide to run for office? I am seeking re-election to the board of supervisors to continue on with the seven year plan that this current board has implemented, in regards to rebuilding our county infrastructure and continue improving the county's finacial status. I will continue to use my valuable governmental experience and my common sense approach when spending tax dollars. Fiscally sound planning today produces a stronger tomorrow for all of Black Hawk County. 2. What issues do …
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
In his first visit to the battleground state since the January caucuses, the presumptive GOP nominee tells Iowans a "prairiefire of debt is sweeping across … the nation."
As a military wife and stay-at-home mom, federal spending plays a huge role in the day-to-day life of 30-year-old Rebecca Hayes. In fact, her family’s livelihood depends on it. “My husband is in the military and that’s how we receive our paychecks,” Hayes said. “And it always seems like that’s the first area they cut.” Hayes, a native of Boston, Mass., who now lives in Ames, Iowa, was among dozens of local residents who turned out to see former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney at the Hotel Fort Des Moines in Des Moines Tuesday. This marked Romney’s first Iowa appearance since the Jan. 3 caucuses. The stop is part of a weeklong stint coordinated by Romney’s campaign and the Republican National Committee to stress “Obama’s debt, deficit and …
Monday, May 14, 2012
The Texas Congressman said today he won't campaign in the states that have yet to hold primary elections, but that doesn't mean he's done with the GOP presidential nomination process.
Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) said Monday that he will no longer campaign in primary states that have not yet held primaries, but he is not completely withdrawing from the GOP presidential politics. According to the Huffington Post, Paul urged those who support his candidacy for president to continue organizing in states that have voted, in order to win delegates to the national convention. "We will no longer spend resources campaigning in primaries in states that have not yet voted," Paul said in a statement. "Doing so with any hope of success would take many tens of millions of dollars we simply do not have." There are 11 states that have not yet held Republican primaries or caucuses, including Paul's home state of Texas, the website reported…
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich, who won two primaries in the GOP nominating process, but finished fourth in the Iowa Caucus, officially suspended his campaign today.
Former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich officially ended his campaign for the Republican presidential nomination on Wednesday, the Huffington Post reported. Gingrich characterized his time on the trail as "a truly wild ride." He said that he and his wife, Callista, had "an amazing year." Addressing the future of presumptive GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney's campaign, Gingrich said that he's been asked whether the former Massachusetts governor is "conservative enough." He said the contest "isn't a choice between Mitt Romney and Ronald Reagan." Rather, he said in taking a shot at President Barack Obama, it's "a choice between Romney and "the most radical, leftist president in American history." Despite hitting bumps in the road, it wasn…
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Thousands rallied for President Barack Obama at the Field House on University of Iowa campus in Iowa City on Wednesday.
President Barack Obama told University of Iowa students today that a college education is the way to make it in America. "Higher education is the single clearest path to the middle class," Obama told a supportive crowd at the University of Iowa Field House. Obama was visiting to make a pitch to prevent a federal student-loan rate increase, and he is taking his argument to those likely to be most receptive: students. University of Iowa was one piece of a multi-campus tour that included stops at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and University of Colorado in Boulder on Tuesday. "I love you guys, and I believe in you guys," Obama told the student-dominated crowd. It's no coincidence Obama chose to visit Iowa, which is expected to be…
Students gathered to protest President Barack Obama's stop at the University of Iowa Field House.
Protesters gathered in Iowa City on Wednesday in advance of President Barack Obama's visit to University of Iowa campus to show their disapproval for the president and his policies. Obama was in town rallying support for Congress to freeze the student loan interest rate before it doubles in July. Obama is due to speak at the University of Iowa Field House this afternoon. "I am here to spread awareness that there are students on campus that don't like Barack Obama, and that it's OK to disagree with the president," said Peter Larson, 23, a UI senior from Dubuque. University of Iowa has a reputation as having a liberal bias. A couple dozen protesters were on hand with banners to greet the president and the 5,000-plus people who came to see …
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
First Lady Michelle Obama was in Des Moines and Windsor Heights Tuesday to thank volunteers for their work on the campaign. The president will speak at the University of Iowa on Wednesday.
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Tuesday, April 24
A crowd of 400 gathered Tuesday at the community center in Windsor Heights to hear First Lady Michelle Obama urge the audience of campaign volunteers to stay focused and fired up because the presidential election could be a very tight race. “I just want you to remember that in the end, this could come down to the last few thousand people we register to vote or help to get to the polls in November. On the sixth of November,” Obama said. Obama added: “I have said this before, Iowa, and you’ve heard me say it. He cannot do this alone. He needs you to help him.” “We’ll help!” a woman yelled back. The first lady never mentioned Mitt Romney, the presumptive GOP nominee, but repeatedly stressed that her husband has a “core” of values. The …
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
With Gov. Terry Branstad's endorsement and Rick Santorum out, Republicans in the swing state of Iowa embrace Romney and turn their attention to general election.
Did Iowa's Gov. Terry Branstad get a tip, does he have more clout than people realize, or does he just have really, really good timing? Iowa's political insiders say it was coincidence that the Republican governor ended his silence and endorsed Mitt Romney as the GOP choice for president moments before news broke that Romney's biggest challenger, Rick Santorum, was suspending his campaign on Tuesday. "It's serendipity," said Eric Woolson, an Iowa GOP staple who was a campaign leader for former candidate Michele Bachmann. "For Gov. Branstad, it's terrific he came forward when he did -- although Santorum then stepped on Gov. Branstad's story -- so that Branstad was in front when he declared his support for Romney while it was a contested …
Alison Gowans
12:00 pm on Tuesday, May 22, 2012
So tell me, Patch readers - have you decided who you'll vote for in this contest? What do you like about either Blum or Lange? more ›