District 3 : Dave Funk
District 4 : Bonita Davis
District 5 : Anita Morrill

These districts are held by Democrats, all of whom will be seeking reelection in November.

“This has been a very encouraging evening with all three of these great conservative candidates stepping up to make a difference for Liberty,” said John Bloom, Polk County Republican Chair.  “We are looking forward to a dynamic campaign of a sort that we have not seen in Polk County in a long time.”

Republicans in Polk County nominated these candidates in a special convention held for this purpose on Tuesday, July 27.  Democrats have held the majority of seats on the Polk County Board of Supervisors since 1948.

Our next Central Committee meeting will be held on Tuesday, July 27, 2010 from 7:00p – 9:00p at the Victory Village Republican Headquarters, home of Governor Branstad and other Republican campaigns (3590 109th St. in Urbandale).

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Agenda

We will have an abbreviated formal agenda, and have an opportunity for tours of the facilities, opportunities to try out the cutting edge phone banking technology!

There will be some important business to conduct at this meeting… more information on that will be coming soon!

Invites You to Join Him

For a Breakfast Rally

with

Republican Candidate for Congress

Brad Zaun

Join Us to Help Take Back Our Country!

“Polk County Republicans will work vigorously to ensure Terry Branstad’s election in November!” said John Bloom, Polk County Republican Chairman.  “We commend Bob Vander Plaats and Rod Roberts for an exceptional and honorable campaign, and look forward to their continued work in supporting Republican candidates.”

Polk County Republicans also congratulate Brad Zaun for winning the Republican nomination in the US House District 3 race.  With seven excellent candidates, there was strong support throughout the field.

“We are very excited to have Brad running against Leonard Boswell in November,” said Will Rogers, Polk County Republican Co-chairman.  “This has been a hard-fought race and the strong turnout clearly signals the strong interest that Republicans share in taking this House seat back.”

The Republican race in Polk County for the Iowa Senate in district 21 was won by Joe Pirillo, and Iowa House District 42’s winner was Kim Pearson.  State race victories included Matt Schultz for Secretary of State and Dave Jamison for State Treasurer.  Polk County Republican’s congratulates these winners and extends its appreciation to all of the candidates in these races.

Iowans received more sobering news on the economy late last week. Unemployment ticked up to 6.9 percent with 116,800 Iowans out of work – an increase of 2,600 from the month before.

This news comes as Governor Culver is traveling the state touting his $1.7 billion dollar I-JOBS program that he promised would create 30,000 jobs and spur an economic revitalization of Iowa’s economy. But since unveiling his I-JOBS idea during the Condition of the State address in January 2009, Iowa has actually lost over 30,000 jobs while nearly $1.7 billion has been added to the state’s credit card.

Based on employment numbers from Iowa Workforce Development, the graph below illustrates the month by month unemployment numbers since Governor Culver announced his temporary work program.

Clearly, Culver’s expensive program has failed. Government cannot create jobs – it’s the private sector and small business that is the engine of job growth.

That’s why we need a new direction for Iowa – one that actually puts the focus on private sector job creation and puts Iowans back into good paying jobs in every county and community in this state.

Senate Republicans have a better plan.

Instead of empowering government bureaucrats to pick winners as is the direction taken by Governor Culver and legislative Democrats, Senate Republicans believe we must give entrepreneurs, employers and small business owners the tools they need to not only succeed today – but into the future as well.

Our detailed three point plan involves providing an immediate jolt of adrenaline to Iowa’s economy by offering aggressive tax incentives for hiring more Iowans while also cultivating good ideas and encouraging entrepreneurs to come forward to develop or expand their venture right here in Iowa.

In addition, our plan includes putting together an extensive volunteer commission of business leaders and entrepreneurs from around that state that will be tasked with identifying the onerous barriers and regulations that are holding back growth, development, expansion and job creation in Iowa. The Legislature and governor will need to act on these citizen suggestions.

When Governor Culver took office and legislative Democrats took over both chambers of the Legislature in January of 2007, Iowa’s unemployment was at 3.6 percent. Today it is on the verge of 7 percent.

Last year, Iowa lost 222 factories and two-thirds of Iowa’s counties lost population because of a lack of jobs. Today we remain 49th in the nation in friendliness to job creators according to US News & World Report and 41st according to the very reputable Small Business Survival Index.

We have now seen four years of sky high property taxes, irresponsible spending and generational debt. Year after year, Democrats have discussed and in some instances passed damaging anti-jobs legislation like gutting Iowa’s Right to Work status, decimating our worker’s compensation system, fundamentally altering our collective bargaining methods and implementing a property tax increasing prevailing wage.

We can and must do better. The status quo in Iowa cannot continue.

Senate Republicans know we can experience a 99 county resurgence. Iowa is filled with promise because we have wonderful people in welcoming communities who have a burning passion to build a better Iowa for their families, friends and neighbors.

We must begin to change direction, reignite the entrepreneurial spirit of the private sector and welcome the new economy of tomorrow. Let us again put our faith in the people to move Iowa forward instead of allowing government to hold us back.

As always, I welcome hearing from you and can be reached by phone at 515-281-3560 or by e-mail at paul.mckinley@legis.state.ia.us

Paul McKinley
Senate Republican Leader
www.mckinleyforiowa.com
www.facebook.com/paulmckinley
www.twitter.com/mckinleyforiowa

Confirmed Speakers:

• Matt Strawn, Chairman of the Republican Party of Iowa
• Kim Lehman, Iowa National Committeewoman for the Republican National Committee
• Emily Lofgren, President, Drake College Republicans

Agenda

• Pledge of Allegiance
• Guest Speakers
• Recognize all Republican candidates present.
• Order of Business
  • Recognize new activists or those returning after a long absence
  • Review & Approve Minutes
  • Receive Treasurer’s Report
  • Executive Committee Report
  • Review and confirm new Executive Committee appointments
  • Review and confirm changes to the Central Committee
  • Polk County Republicans activities since last CC meeting
  • Committee Reports on Strategic Action Plan
• Open Discussion & Wrap Up

Speaker Newt Gingrich is coming to Des Moines!  He will deliver the Keynote at the First Annual Robb Kelley Victory Club Dinner, on Wednesday, May 26!  Polk County Republicans, in concert with the Robb Kelley Victory Club, will be hosting this event at the Downtown Des Moines Marriott Hotel, with a general reception beginning at 5:30 PM and dinner at 6:45 PM.   I am very excited to see the work we have done here in Polk County recognized by a national conservative leader of Newt’s caliber!

I want Polk County Republican activists like you to to take advantage of the opportunity to attend this important event, because it is your continued support of Polk County Republicans that makes it possible for us to host people like Newt.  You are the very lifeblood of our organization, and events like this help to continuing strengthening our resolve to deliver the message of smaller government and broader liberties.

And while Newt is clearly the main event, the upcoming Primaries create a further opportunity for us to highlight Republican candidates who will be on the ballot in June.  We expect most of the Republican candidates for Congress from Polk County and all of the Republican candidates for Governor to be on hand!

Space is limited, so now is the time to purchase your tickets.  I’ve included a link to our event flyer here (in PDF format).  If you cannot open the flyer, or have any questions, you may call our office at 515-280-6438 or email Darrell Kearney at dkearney@polkgop.com.

To pay for your tickets, you may go to this link, where you will find appropriate information for paying for your tickets online.

I’m looking forward to seeing you at the dinner, and I appreciate your continued commitment to the Republican Party in Polk County!

Warm Regards,

John Bloom,
Chairman, Polk County Republican Party
johnbloom@polkgop.com