Current Date

The Conservative Reader:
Iowa

Matt Strawn Door Knocking For Kim Pearson!

Matt Strawn Door Knocking For Kim Pearson!

Matt Strawn, Chairman of the Republican Party of Iowa, will be out door-knocking and encouraging folks to get out and vote in Altoona along with Kim Pearson who is running for the Iowa House in District 42. 

“Every local race matters in this election,” Strawn said. “Changing Chet Culver isn’t enough. We need to change leadership in the Iowa legislature and return principled, conservative government to the people of Iowa. We need to elect people like Kim Pearson.”

It’s awesome that Matt is getting out and helping candidates like Kim.  Kim is a great example of a new group of candidates that have just had enough with “business as usual” politics and want to get state government back to doing the work it is intended to do.  More information about Kim can be found at her web site by clicking here.

Other party leaders have also been getting out and doing work along side of the volunteers.  John Bloom and Will Rogers (Polk County GOP Chair and Co-chair) have both put in scores of hours making phone calls, deliverying yard signs, attending and hosting fund raising events, and knocking on doors.  These two leaders have put as much time as possible into this campaign and the impact is impressive!

But most importantly, it’s encouraging to see the level of work being done by volunteers and interest in general in this year’s mid-term elections.  The work being done by volunteers is great.  We are seeing a lot of yard signs and bumper stickers… I just put up my first ever barn sign on a friend’s property.  Granted, I’m known in the neighborhood as the “Burma Shave Guy” because I have so many signs on my lawn.  But everyone knows who to come to for signs of their own as well.

I’ve also had a lot of great personal interaction at work, church, in the grocery store, on the street… it’s pretty amazing to see how interested people are in what is happening in our government!

Signs are great, phone calls are good, but the most effective way of impacting voters, in my opinion, is knocking on their door and talking to them.  Some of the best campaigners are good at getting out and meeting folks in their community, and getting volunteers to do the same on their behalf.  I’m really glad that Matt and Kim are going out today to connect with the voters.  This year’s election should be a turning point for our state and our county.

How can we all best show our appreciation for the work being done by party leaders and volunteers?  Get out and vote.  Polk County satellite voting is available today and tomorrow (locations can be found at www.polkgop.com) and early voting is available up to the day before election day (information on this also found at www.polkgop.com).  Or, just go to your polling place on election day and vote.  If you don’t know where your polling place is, you can get that information at this link.

Parties and candidates can all still use volunteer help.  Go to www.polkgop.com to find a Republican candidate to connect with, or use the contact information there to connect with the Polk County Republican Party or the Republican Party of Iowa.

Now is the time to make a difference.  Don’t wait.

Polk County Republicans

Polk County Republicans

Note from Art Smith: As the Communications Director for the Polk County Republican Party here in Iowa, I have had the privilege of watching an extraordinary group of leaders build an organization that has been engaging for the party activists in Polk County, has brought itself into the eyes of the community, has succeeded in hosting several high-value events featuring nationally-known speakers, and most importantly, has provided a valuable support mechanism for our candidates.

The following is a letter from the leaders of Polk County Republicans, Chairman John Bloom and Co-chair Will Rogers.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

As you may be already aware, this election year could be one of the biggest landslide victories for Republican candidates in over 15 years, including right here in Polk County. And it is our belief that Polk County Republicans has never been in a better position to help our candidates achieve victory.

Since 1948, the Democrat Party has been in control of Polk County government. In that time period, we have seen the Democrat Party and its candidates raise millions of dollars from Special Interest Groups and Political Action Committees. And under their leadership, we have seen our property taxes go up, spending go up, our debt go up, and a continued exodus of jobs from Polk County.

This is why the Democrats rely on the support of lobbyists, trial lawyers, unions, and out-of-state corporations. Simply put, Polk County Democrats represent all that is wrong with government.

But we are ready to change all of that.

Since early last year, we have been focused on rebuilding a strong grassroots organization. And the results are beginning to show. So far this year alone we have accomplished the following:

  • 25 Republican candidates on the fall’s ballot – the largest number in the last 40 years.
  • Polk County Central Committee Members and Activists have been instrumental in making tens of thousands of voter identification calls to Republicans and Independent voters.
  • Sponsored Voter Registration and Outreach booths at the Asian Heritage Festival, Latino Heritage Festival, and the Juneteenth Observation Festival
  • Participated in the State Fair Parade and parades in the following communities: West Des Moines, Grimes, Johnston, Ankeny, Beaverdale, Urbandale, Pleasant Hill, and Mitchellville.
  • Identified over 500 volunteers and activists to help our Republican candidates with door knocking, lit dropping, making phone calls, walking in parades, and Get-Out-The-Vote Activities.
  • Helped distribute and put up over 1,000 campaign yard signs for our Republican candidates.

And with this level of organization, combined with just a few thousand dollars more, we can help get our candidates message of responsible government, better jobs, reduced spending and lower taxes out to voters from across the county.

But in order to have a chance at taking back our government, we are going to need your help.

Your gift of $25, $50, $100, $250, $500 or more, will help with the cost of flyers, direct mail, yard signs, and Get-Out-The-Vote activities.

Contributions can be mailed to the Polk County Republican Party, 621 East 9th St., Des Moines, IA 50309 or on line at www.polkgop.com

or…


Please take a moment to make your contribution today.

Thanks in advance for your encouragement and generous support.

Sincerely Yours,


John Bloom
Chairman

Will Rogers
Co-chair

P.S. Please help us make this Election Year one of the best ever!

Zaun Leads Boswell In New Poll

Zaun Leads Boswell In New Poll

The following was released by the Polk County Republican Party:

The Polk County Republican Party commissioned a poll in Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District that shows Republican Brad Zaun leading by 7.3% points in a head to head match-up with incumbent Leonard Boswell.

“These numbers are very encouraging for Senator Zaun and Republicans across the board.  It is clear voters in central Iowa are looking for new, principled leadership,” said Chairman of the Republican Party of Iowa Matt Strawn.

Other highlights in the survey include:

  • Zaun beats Boswell in Polk County, 46.5% to 38.4%
  • Among Independent voters, Zaun again leads Boswell, 41.3% to 31.7%
  • Boswell hard re-elect is only at 24.7% with a total re-elect of 34%, but 51.3% of voters say it’s time for a new person
  • 25.4% of Democrats say it’s ‘definitely time’ for a new person
  • Zaun earns support from 26.2% of Democrats

“Polk County Republicans are more organized and energized than ever before.  These numbers confirm what we’re seeing on the ground.   We’re going to do our part to support candidates like Brad Zaun both financially and organizationally and help them to victory in November,” concluded  Chairman of the Polk County Republican Party John Bloom.

The survey consisted of 300 likely general election voters and has a margin of error of +/- 5.6%.   The 300 completes were comprised of 21% independent voters, 42% Democrats and 37% Republicans with 66% of the respondents being from Polk and the rest geographically proportioned from the remainder of the 3rd District.  The survey was conducted by Victory Enterprises out of Davenport, Iowa.

TCR Report Preview: Polk County Chair John Bloom, and Chris Hagenow

TCR Report Preview: Polk County Chair John Bloom, and Chris Hagenow

Join us this Tuesday (January 5) from 3:00 to 5:00 Central for The Conservative Reader Report on Des Moines’ only completely local and live internet talk radio station: Des Moines Local Live! This week’s guests are:

John Bloom, Chair of the Polk County Republican Party.  John will bring us the latest updates on the 2010 caucus preparations, an overview of the relevant major political events of 2010, an update on activities in the Republican Party in Polk County, and will answer your questions.

Chris Hagenow, Iowa House member from District 59 (West Des Moines, Windsor Heights and Clive).  He will talk about the 2010 legislative session, issues that are important to you today in Iowa, and thoughts about the 2010 elections… and he’ll answer your questions as well.

We’ll have updates on the political news that’s important to you, along with the Smart and Dumb politicians of the week.

Only on The Conservative Reader Report.

Polk County Republicans Select New Leadership

Polk County Republicans Select New Leadership

As we mentioned yesterday, tonight was the Polk County Republican Party election for Chair and Co-chair.  John Bloom of West Des Moines was elected Chairman and Will Rogers of Des Moines was elected Co-chairman.

There was a good-sized. group, including about 80 Central Committee members at Hillside Elementary School in West Des Moines.  The meeting lasted about two and a half hours.

The new leaders are both committed to working to build a stronger party, including improvements in the use and management of technology, and soliciting more active participation by committee and other party members in priortizing the party’s work, plugging people into areas where their talents can be used effectively, unifying the message of the party, and getting Republicans elected.

We look forward to working with this team and finding opportunities to help promote the party’s message.  I only met Will tonight, and have known John for a little over a year, and I believe they will make a great team!

Congratulations to both John and Will!

For those of you in Polk County, if you are not already involved, now is a good time to start.  We will have contact information available here at TCR: Iowa in the near future.

    Log in