Des Moines County GOP

Over the next two weekends, Iowa Republicans will attend their district conventions. Districts two, three and five will meet Saturday, April 24. Districts one and four will meet Saturday, May 1. Delegates will continue crafting the 2010 Iowa GOP platform – a statement of the party’s political beliefs. They’ll also hear from local and statewide Republican candidates seeking support in the June primary elections. Below is a note from me and Iowa GOP Co-Chairman Jim Kurtenbach to those Iowans.

Dear Republicans:

As we prepare for the 2010 District Conventions, Co-Chair Jim Kurtenbach and I wanted to take a moment to thank each of you for your dedication to the Cause, offer our gratitude to retiring State Central Committee members, and share our insight on the upcoming State Central Committee elections.

First, for those State Central Committee members who are not seeking re-election, we want to offer a sincere thank you for your efforts to rebuild your Republican Party of Iowa. Especially to those retiring members with young families, we certainly understand the sacrifices associated with missed bedtimes, constant phone calls disrupting dinner, and juggling family activities with Party business.

While there is much, much work to be done to ensure our Republican candidates and our principled agenda is victorious in November, we hope you join us in thanking your State Central Committee members for all the progress we’ve made over the last 16 months.

Communication between RPI and county organizations has improved dramatically. RPI and county organizations are working together as partners in such areas as joint fundraising efforts, candidate and volunteer recruitment, and implementing an extremely innovative voter program that is driven by the grassroots. Coordination between the Party and our candidates at all levels has never been better. Simply put, your Iowa GOP is making a difference in Iowa politics again.

Iowa Republicans have Governor Chet Culver and majority Democrats on the defensive and now is not the time to let up. By focusing on our political opponents we have been able to go on offense and take the fight to a Democratic agenda that is offensive to any freedom-loving Iowan.

The greatest asset to what we believe will be the strongest Iowa Republican ticket in years is a fully functioning Republican Party of Iowa that is firing on all cylinders from now until Election Day.

That is a responsibility that rests directly on your shoulders.

Over the past few weeks we have heard from delegates all across the state who sought our recommendations on the upcoming State Central Committee elections. Just like our passionate belief that RPI leaders should stay neutral in Republican primary campaigns, we believe that your Party leadership should not issue specific candidate endorsements for the State Central Committee elections that will take place over the next two weekends.

There is a reason we have chosen the Republican Party. We are bound by a shared set of beliefs and principles for the kind of community, state and nation we want for ourselves and our families. Our job is to advance this principled agenda by electing Republican candidates who embody those beliefs and principles. It’s that simple.

There is no question that our state and our nation cannot continue on its current course. Reversing this course starts in Iowa this November. We have the candidates to accomplish this mission. We have the issues and policy solutions to accomplish this mission. Going forward, I am confident that we will have a statewide Party organization working together to accomplish this mission.

As always, thank you for your service to Party and Cause. We look forward to seeing you at your District Convention.