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6:00 p.m. Last night, Dr. Lee Hieb, who is running for Governor, held her candidate reception after being interviewed on WHO Radio. Several candidates and supporters gathered to discuss strategy after the event.
Dianna Visek, our Regional Representative on the Libertarian National Committee has made it to the convention.
Welcome to the 2014 State Convention of the Libertarian Party of Iowa. We’re live blogging from the Hilton Garden Inn in Johnston, Iowa. Today’s highlights will include voting for our candidates for state and federal offices. The morning session includes speeches by Dianna Visek, National Libertarian Party regional representative, and Dr. Don Racheter, president, Iowa Public Interest Institute.
Picture is of Forest R. Johnson III, candidate for Iowa Congressional District 4.
Dr. Lee Hieb announced her candidacy for governor on the Jan Mickelson show yesterday, on WHO 1040 AM radio. Here is a link to the podcast: http://www.whoradio.com/onair/mickelson-in-the-morning-7738/a-libertarian-choice-of-governor-sex-12179070/
Dianna Visek gave a motivational talk featuring how well Libertarian Party candidates have done in recent elections in the United States. Libertarian candidates are doing well in two- and three-party contests and in the number of candidates running. She then turned to the issue of ballot access. Iowa is a state where it is relatively easy to get ballot access but, as with other states where the Libertarian Party is making inroads into electoral strength, the more attention Libertarians get from voters, the more attention Libertarians get from other political parties seeking to get their own candidates ballot wins.
Dianna warned that now is the time for Libertarians to start preparing for challenges from opponents. She then talked about Top 2, in which all candidates are tossed into one primary instead of separate party primaries. This process tends to prevent smaller parties’ candidates from getting beyond the primary.
Photo is of Dianna Visek talking to a roomful of attentive Libertarians.
Attendees were asked for comments during a break of the LPIA State Convention
“Dianna Visek’s presentation contained points the LPIA need sto hear. Dr. Hieb’s candidacy may well gain us party status, and we must be prepared for the displeasure of the ‘established parties.’” – Lynne Gentry, LPIA Executive Committee membership
The LPIA convention is “far less contentious than the Republican convention.” – Melinda, attending to hear the keynote speaker
“I me here because I… saw it on Facebook. I wanted to learn more about it… I think the Republicans and Democrats are more the same thing.” Troy
“I think it’s been a good convention so far. I’m very impressed with the party growth.” “I appreicate all the work the volunteers have done on the platform.” – Karla
“I’m impressed. My son wanted to come…” – Joyce (When asked if she was going to switch to Libertarian Party registration, she replied vervantly, “I’m not going to remain a Republican.”)
Picture is of Doug Butzier, one of the candidates seeking the LPIA’s nomination for U.S. Senate.
Dr. Don Racheter, president of the Iowa Public Interest Institute gave the keynote speech. The organization’s website is at: http://www.limitedgovernment.org/ He started off with a history of the organization; it started about two decades ago. Don was instrumental in the establishment of the Institute. Then he talked about some of the resources the institute offers that can help members of the Libertarian Party.
The Institute has a speakers’ bureau and Don is available to talk to groups. It produces ten publications and offers the Iowa Civics Project for students. The civics project is intended to serve as a state-oriented complement to the American studies courses schools required. Publications includes information sent to daily newspapers throughout the state. Another one looks at Limits, such as term limits and limited government. One of the recent briefs was IPERS – good enough? (IPERS is the Iowa Public Employee Retirement fund.)
The Institute’s efforts at transperency have been scaled back as the State of Iowa has started its own transparency website. The Institute’s transperency website is till up, though, at www.Iowatransperency.org. Other information the Institute has looked at include how much it would cost if all the bills proposed by a legislature were enacted. Staff at the Institute is free to write about what interests them, so it may be, at times, more conservative and at other times more liberal.
During the comments time, Dianna Visek urged people at the convention to make use of the Institute’s information resources when writing letters to the editor. She added that talking about transparency is a topic that people in other parties, and the media, take interest in and will support.
Picture is of Dr. Don Racheter: “We want to limit leviathans.”
Over the lunch break, asked people what they would like from a county affiliate. (The LPIA has been working to establish affiliates.)
From Scott County, Terry said he’d like for people to meet and discuss local issues. Maybe something could be set up at local colleges. Joey said he remembers when representatives from the Republican and Democratic parties went to his high school. He became a Republican because of that, so Libertarians should also go to high schools. Terry said the objective would be to increase the size of the party.
Johnson County is discussing whether to have an affiliate. Chris said it will come down to what people hope to achieve. He’d like to see community events.
Dubuque County hasn’t started but Stephen said he’d like meet and greet, “get to know like-minded ideas about government policy.”
Picture is of David Snowden Overby, candidate for Iowa House District 57.
The business meeting of the LPIA State Convention started with approval of changes to the platform and the governing documents (Constitution and Bylaws). The changes were not controversial and approval was given by the Committee as a Whole for the changes. These changes help to strengthen the party’s operations and recruitment efforts.
Party nominations are the main focus of today’s meetings. Rules were suspended to allow voice votes for nominations that were uncontested. The gubernatorial candidates came first.
Ed Wright nominated Dr. Lee Hieb as governor for “the great state of Iowa.” Tim seconded and when told he had to give a speech said, Lee’s “a nice lady.” Keith added from the chair, that’s “something we’ve not had before.” Lynne added a comment that when she heard Dr. Hieb speak at an event, she turned to someone and said, we need for to run for governor.
Dr. Hieb said Iowa is number 15 for taxation and we are at the bottom two-thirds for freedom. Our greatest exports to a neighboring state are jobs and businesses because of taxes. “The idea here is we have to push back the federal government and our own state government.” She pointed out three issues specifically on which she disagrees with the current governor of Iowa: Common Core, Obamacare, and the budget.
Ryan Ketelsen was nominated with reference to his energy and desire to help move the LPIA towards victory. He asks that people at the convention go back and motivate their localities to support their campaign. He and Dr. Hieb cannot win by themselves. They need lots of little campaign donors and lots of volunteers. They are also going to work on the social media side of campaigning.
The LPIA has officially nominated Hieb-Ketelsen as the party’s nominees for governor and lt. Governor.
Pictures are of Governor candidate Dr. Lee Hieb and of Lt. Governor candidate Ryan Ketelsen
Three nominations were made for U.S. Senate. (Tom Harkin, a Democrat who has been a Senator from Iowa for several decades, is not seeking re-election. This is a big race in Iowa this year. The Democrats have one candidate in the primary, a woman who was a state senator. The Republicans have several candidates, including a former federal prosecutor and the current Iowa Secretary of State, in their primary.)
They are Doug Butzier, Chuck Aldrich, and Rick Stewart. Doug is an emergency room physician and he says that gives him experience in making decisions. As a U.S. senator he would use his skills for a new kind of government that works for the people, “because I’m one of you,” he concluded.
Chuck Aldrich spoke second. He moved to Iowa from Minnesota within the past two years for a job. The job didn’t last but he had bought a house so stayed. He doesn’t think the U.S. should be the policeman of the world and doesn’t like that the U.S. is spending the most money to keep the United Nations running. He received loud applause for saying half the population could be released if we stopped our war on drugs.
Rick Stewart started off by saying Libertarians may not want to vote for him because he believes in redistributing from the top to the bottom. Then he went on to say we should wind down Social Security and Medicare and replace it with a solitary tax that is paid by every working American and received by nobody but a working American. “It is designed to make work rewarding.” He said he would run as an Independent if he doesn’t run as the Libertarian Party candidate. He said he wants the Libertarian nomination but he also said that having two liberty-mindeded candidates, the LP candidate and him as an independent, could be advantageous.
The rules have been suspended, the candidates asked to leave the room, and a discussion is being held.
Pictures are of Chuck Aldrich and Rick Stewart. A picture of Doug Butzier was posted earlier in the day.
Doug Butzier has won the LPIA nomination for U.S. Senate.
Gary Sicard is the LPIA nominee for U.S. Congressional District 1. Gary was unable to attend the convention. There were no nominations for the 2nd and 3rd Districts. Forest R. Johnson III is the LPIA nominee for U.S. Congressional District 4. Forest was in the U.S. Army for 9 years and is a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom. “Every time I see this [4th District map]… I get excited.” (The 4th District is very large geographically and the Congressional seat is held by an established Republican.) “I’m so proud” I can be a candidate for the people of Iowa.
The LPIA Bylaws allow for the Executive Committee to approve nominations for 2nd and 3rd Districts should eligible Iowans desire to run for the seats.
Picture is of Forest giving his speech before the nomination vote was taken.
Jake Porter is the LPIA nominee for Iowa Secretary of State. He said we need to bring business filings into the 21st Century. It’s ridiculous that a business can’t use a credit card online to make payments. He also believes the role of Secretary of State is to provide good service to voters and to businesses, not to push for e-verify or economic development.
Picture is of Jake giving his nomination speech.
There were no nominations for State Auditor or Attorney General. Keith Laube received the nomination for State Treasurer. He has an MBA. The current Treasurer has held the position for about 30 years and the Democrat now serving has no Republican opponent. (Keith is also the chair of the LPIA.) A potential candidate exists for Secretary of Agriculture but was unable to attend the state convention due to illness. If he decides he would like to run, the Executive Committee will vote on his nomination.
Picture is of Keith Laube talking at the start of the LPIA state convention.
No nominations were received for State Senate. A nomination of Josh Herbert was made for Iowa House District 31 that includes Pleasant Hill, part of the Des Moines metro area. David Overby was nominated for the Iowa House District 57 in Dubuque County. Lynne Gentry was nominated for Iowa House District 10 that includes Rockwell City. Eric Cooper was nominated for Iowa House 45. The district includes the Ames metro area. He did not attend the convention.
Josh is against Common Core, wants to decrease the income tax, and fix roads and bridges. David said you can’t lose your freedom unless you let them take it away from you. He thinks there is no need for the corporate income tax since it only raises 2%-3%, it just gives lobbyists a chance to influence legislation; plus, corporations don’t make money, it is the shareholders’ money. Lynne, like Jake, thanked former Executive Committee member Kevin Litten and former LPIA chair Ed Wright for bringing her into the party and encouraging her to be active. She retired after 41 years of teaching and now sands cars for her son’s auto shop business. She’s a seasoned candidate for the state legislature. There are three reasons she decided to run again: (1) to give a choice as the current representative is running unopposed, (2) to help build the LPIA, and (3) to help voters understand what they have in common with Libertarians.
All won nomination unanimously.
The convention has adjourned. It has been a long day but the energy is very high. A meet and greet is following. Look for more pictures and candidate information on the LPIowa Facebook page.
