Republicans have a lot of important decision to make on June 5th. Even though our caucuses are long behind us, and there are no challenges for federal races, the GOP primary ballot is full of locally contested races. Republican voters need to pay attention and turn out to vote. Primaries are notoriously low turn out elections. Remember when you don't go to the polls you are letting a small group of people make your decisions for you.
State Representative District 6: Ron Jorgensen vs Matthew Ung
County Supervisor District 1: Mike Hobart vs Linda Holub
County Supervisor District 3: Dick Salem vs Eldon Eliason vs Greg Trucke
County Supervisor District 5: Brian Ashley vs Judy Darwin
Auditor/Recorder: Doug Batcheller vs Mark Jensen vs Chris Pierce
Sheriff: Dave Drew vs James Bauerly vs Gregory Logan
I can't remember a time when there were so many competitive races on the GOP primary ballot. However, aside for some yard signs popping up for sheriff and state house, there hasn't been much activity by which to judge the candidates and their campaigns.
However what I have seen from one of the candidates troubles me greatly.
I care a great deal about who is the State Representative for Morningside and Sgt. Bluff. I think Ron Jorgensen has done an exemplary job for us in the state house. I've heard repeatedly from my former colleagues in the House that Ron quickly earned their respect and his stripes when he floor managed the collective bargaining reform legislation. It was very much trial by fire, but he demonstrated he does his homework and can take the heat from the Democrats and unions on the floor. He has become one of the "go to" guys when it comes to numbers in the House - not a surprise considering his CFO background.
Jorgensen hasn't just been focused on policy in Des Moines; just as importantly he's been doing his constituent work here at home. When a guy knocks on my door in a non-election year it gets my attention.
What has disturbed me in recent weeks are the misleading attacks his primary opponent Matthew Ung has leveled on him. After twenty years of campaigns I can tell when the charges and the letters are written by the candidate and their campaign, and when it's being written and financed by someone outside of the district - and that's what I've seen from Ung.
Ung's attack that Jorgensen somehow isn't sufficiently pro-life is misleading at best, but downright laughable to those of us who took the time to research the votes he is citing. Every legislator endorsed by Iowa Right to Life cast the exact same vote. Would Ung have us believe that pro-life stalwarts like Sioux County's Dwayne Alons or Betty DeBoef had somehow gone weak kneed on the issue of protecting the unborn?
But that's the thing - I doubt Mr. Ung knows that. It's who ever wrote his direct mail for him. Considering that fully one quarter of the House Republican legislators have primary opponents, all running from a position further to the right, leads me to believe this is someone else's doing. My problem is that I cannot identify who yet, and won't be able to until after the campaign disclosure reports come out after the balloting is over and votes are counted.
It's tough to imagine a credible argument that the House Republican caucus isn't sufficiently conservative. Under Jorgensen and the Republicans spending is down; both in terms of percentage of growth and real dollars. More importantly at the negotiating table they held the Democrats to spending only on-going revenue and not using one-time funds; which makes Iowa's budget more stable and ends the yo-yo effect of having funds one year and slashing budgets the next.
I encourage my fellow Republicans to vote to keep Ron Jorgensen as our state representative. I also cast my primary votes for Linda Holub, Dick Salem, Doug Batcheller and Dave Drew - I've known all four for years and trust them to make wise decisions and be good stewards of my tax dollars.
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