My Primary Choices

With just hours remaining until balloting begins in the 2010 primary the time is growing near when we must make our decisions about who we will cast our vote for. With all the choices out there it was a difficult year to make that decision. I know. It was difficult for me to come to my decisions, but I did it. Now I would like to let you know who I am voting for and why. Perhaps my ramblings will help you come to your conclusion.

As most of you already know, I have come to the decision to cast my vote for Bob Vander Plaats in the Republican Gubernatorial Primary tomorrow morning. Initially this race was filled with good candidates for the masses to choose from. However with the entry of Terry Branstad into the race this changed. At the end only three candidates remained; Bob Vander Plaats, Rod Roberts, and Terry Branstad. After reviewing Branstad’s record I quickly dismissed the possibility of voting for him because I could not square his tax raising tendencies from his previous four terms in off with the rhetoric he has spewed on the campaign trail this time around. Next I looked at Rod Roberts. I liked what I saw; he was a nice guy that kept his nose clean. However the more I watched him the more I came to realize that he wasn’t bold enough of a leader to accomplish what Iowa needs right now. This left Bob Vander Plaats. Make no bones about it I am not voting for Vander Plaats because of his endorsements. I am not voting for Vander Plaats with a lesser of two evils mentality. I am voting for Vander Plaats because I believe that he can lead this state back to prominence both economically and politically. I am voting for Bob Vander Plaats because of the three candidates in the race I believe that he is the candidate best equipped to deal with the issues that our state will face in the coming years. So I am happy to urge each and every one of you to go out tomorrow to your polling place and vote for Bob Vander Plaats for Governor of Iowa.

This brings us to the 3^rd Congressional District. This has been a banner year for the Republican Party as seven, count them, seven candidates managed to file the necessary paperwork to appear on the primary ballot tomorrow. And to have several of those seven of those candidates being somewhat decent conservatives is an outstanding declaration on the state of the party here in Iowa. I have to admit that it was difficult making a decision as to who to throw my support behind. However, in the end it was Dave Funk that earned my support. I was so impressed with Dave’s understanding of the constitutional principles that I volunteered to work with his campaign. I don’t say this to disparage the other candidates because there are a few that I would have no problem voting for in the general election, but the primary is about putting forth the best candidate that we have to represent our district and I believe that candidate is Dave. So it is without any hesitations that urge each of you to get to the polling place tomorrow and cast your vote for Dave Funk for Congress.

Now we find ourselves considering the race for Secretary of State. This is a race that has gotten little if any fanfare from the press, including Iowa Defense Alliance. With all the buzz coming from the Gubernatorial and Congressional races mentioned above in conjunction with life in general, well we just didn’t have time to cover it like I would have liked. I managed to meet Matt Schultz at the 3^rd District Convention and found him to be an energetic and intelligent man. Our state would do well to have someone such as Matt Schultz as our Secretary of State. I have also met with George Eichhorn in the past and have found him to be a very competent and intelligent individual. However, I feel that Schultz would be our best candidate to take on Mauro in the general election. And so I enthusiastically support Matt Schultz for the Secretary of State nomination.

There is a lot riding on the primary votes that will be placed tomorrow. In all likelihood the direction our state will take in the next four years will be decided by tomorrow’s outcome. That direction will be decided upon the votes that the thousands of Iowan’s will cast. And so it is without hesitation that I urge Iowan’s to get and vote for the three candidates that I have set before you. I believe with all my heart that they are the right individual to lead our state.