Matt Strawn was elected Chairman, I’m told he received 10 votes to Carroll’s 7.
Jim Kurtenbach was elected Co-Chairman – This is a great development.
Matt Randall was elected to be the RPI Treasurer – Again, awesome.
Bill Schickel was elected to serve as the committees Secretary – Outstanding.
There are a lot of people who have been very public with their opinion that the State Central Committee is dominated by Social Conservatives, and because of that all they care about is forwarding that type a agenda and not doing what’s best for the Party. It is time for those people to eat some crow.
There should be no doubt that this SCC committee wasn’t going to have their arms twisted by no one, and instead would simply do what they think is best for the Party. They did just that, and now we as bloggers and activists must do our party to be part of the solution as well.
Also clear for the vote today is that this SCC will not stand for any shenanigans or infighting. Gopal Krishna and Lisa Smith were stripped of their positions as Treasurer and Secretary. Gopal was just elected Treasurer last spring and Smith has been the Secretary for over a decade.
Those who needed to heed a message got one loud a clear. Let’s talk about a new positive direction for the party, it’s a great day for Iowa Republicans.
More on Monday.
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Edit needed: Strawn instead of Randall for Chair
ReplyDeleteMy bad, too many Matt's
ReplyDeleteBig day for the 4th CD
A great day to be a Republican.
ReplyDeleteThis is in no way to take away anything from that great man, Danny Carroll. They don't come any better.
ReplyDeleteLets hope this is the beginning of the end for the Scheffler, Krishna, Smith, Lehman axis of...
ReplyDeleteLets all hope and pray
Today our SCC regained it's exhaulted role as the voice of a proud party. My congratulations to each of them for their service and for restoring honor to our system.
ReplyDeleteThe real winner today is anyone in our state who is a Republican!
Story County has two of the top four top spots.
ReplyDeleteI hope this also signals that Senator Rich Olive has been put on notice. Kurtenbach is Kurten-back!
We were dominated by socons that only wanted to further their agenda at the expense of RPI
ReplyDeleteDon't forget that there are socons out there (a majority of us) that know that we can further both agendas without damaging each other.
This was just a bunch of bad apples that make the rest of us socons look bad. Please don't judge all of us by the bad behavior of a select few.
Mr. noon - don't be so sure that you are a majority of the members of the party and certainly not a majority of the prospective Republican voters.
ReplyDeleteNoon: Very well said.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations REpublicans. Strawn and Kurtnebach will do us proud. As much as we like and support the new team. We are hoping that this team will still include Leon Mosley who is supported so well by grassroots workers. If they exclude him from everything, it will be a disservice to his many, many friends and supporters.
ReplyDeletePlease read more carefully, I was talking about socons, and I meant that the majority of the socons are not of the Krishna/sheffler/smith/anderson ilk.
ReplyDeletenever did I imply that socons were or were not a majority of the party or of the prospective voters.
you should also not be so sure that we are not. it is very possible that you haven't heard from the 'real' socons because of the ones that were bad.
I for one do not want to be associated with them because of their past actions; but my viewpoint is similar on many issues.
All I am saying is that we would like you all to not lump all socons in with the likes of the ones you justly tossed out on their rears!
We need to make a second co-chair position to keep Mosley! There are many county committees that have several co-chair positions, why not do it at the state level?
ReplyDeletethis is "mr. 12:00" again... forgot to include Lehman in my rant-
ReplyDeletepeople who are on the SCC should support ALL republican candidates unless they engage in "pay to play" or other illegal activities.
I for one am pleased with all of the election results. I think we have a great team and I for one am looking forward to the College Republicans' relationship with the new board, which appears very focused on helping with closing the gap in the youth vote, including a focus on the need for use of communication mediums like facebook, twitter, and the like. It is a great day for the Republican Party of Iowa!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad so many great candidates came forth, willing to serve.
ReplyDeleteIt came down to a couple of class acts and I think we got a great new leader for our party.
Let's all get on board and beat up on some D's. Their honeymoon ends with the coming inauguration.
This is leadership committee I can stand behind. I know Jim Kurtenbach and he is an outstanding leader. Despite all of the name calling, opinions and conjecture over the blogs, we cannot forget that the past leadership did give their time and talent to the cause. Whether we agreed or disagreed with them we do owe them a measure of thanks for giving to the party. Best wishes as we LOOK FORWARD.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, the thing that stands out in this election is that the SCC chose people largely based on their qualifications. Not back-room deals or horse-trading, but talent and experience. Each of the front-runners brought something to the table, and you should be commended for improving the process rather than promoting your ambitions. As an independent conservative, I hope that bodes well for the future of the Iowa GOP, for you have a monumental challenge before you. Simply put, the task at hand is to "Win Elections," and that will require you to come together and work your tails off. Good luck, and Godspeed.
ReplyDeleteBrent Hoffman
Sioux City
P.S. Someone please explain why so few people include their names? Is it because I should expect to be lambasted simply for sharing my opinion? It's okay, my ego will survive it.
Great picks! Our faith in the SSC can be restored these are all SoCo's that can reach across the spectrum of the party. Awesome!!
ReplyDeleteWelcome to the John McCain Party of Iowa. Strawn sure is a great republican. John did so well in the presidential I am sure we will be in the minority for a long time now that we have his boy leading us. That is great! Social conservatives 3:40, SERIOUSLY...GET REAL.
ReplyDelete4:47 - Thank you for your positive attitude. When everyone else is welcoming the chance to put this all behind us, you just have to be snippy. It's that type of attitude that has done more damage than anything else. Either engage in meaningful critiques or don't post.
ReplyDeleteSigned, I agree with Brent,
Mary Whisenand
Des Moines
4:54:"Either engage in meaningful critiques or don't post."
ReplyDelete--------------
Hold on there Mary,while I'm not 4:47 nor do I really agree with 4:47's cynicism, I do support his and any other poster's freedom to be cynical. My standards probably don't meet some other Republican's standards, so who am I to judge the suitability of another Republican's choice of issues and concerns? Does every Republican agree with yoour standards? Should we all be required to agree?
I think we need to end this labeling within the Party - We should be and ultimately are Republicans first.
ReplyDeleteI hate the terms like Afro Americans. Polish Americans etc-
Any time such terms are used it is an effort to divide the fact we are Americans- ditto for Republicans and the varied terms used to describe them. Most end up being red flags to start arguements.
Todays results were not aimed at any broad faction of the party - nor a victory for any other faction. Plain and simplesome of the results were aimed at individuals who were not team players-it was not aimed groups they may belong to.
That you, 6:16. I will clarify my point a little more. No, we shouldn't all have to agree. One of the greatest freedoms we enjoy in this country is the ability to speak our minds, even when we disagree with one another. What I was trying to point out is the fact that there are ways to engage in a debate of our different opinions that are more positive and constructive.
ReplyDeleteMary
4:47 PM - You do know that Strawn is on the ITRL board? And McCain was supported by many of the RTL, at least early on, because he was considered pro-life?
ReplyDeleteMy impression of Matt when I met with him was that he was pretty conservative all the way around.
This will be a great team. I'm Really Excited!
ReplyDeleteHey Krusty, do you and any of the rest of the Republicans on here remember just 3 years ago when "FLOOD RELIEF" was a dirty word in Republican parlors and kitchens? Forwarded all over the conservative half of the internet as laughing-stock? "FLOOD RELIEF" was a code word for lazy, welfare-cheats, no-good hedonists, tax-dollar sponging, New Orleans ner-do-wells?
ReplyDeleteSo now the mold is growing on our side of the street and it's different eh? Kind of like activist judges are un-American unless they're our activist judges, eh?
Did you know that if you delete 10 facebook friends you get a free whopper from burger king?
ReplyDeleteWho would you delete?
I think this is a great team but I am a little dissapointed with the way it was handled at the end. With all the talk about how there would not be any backroom deals hidden from the grassroots, that is EXACTLY what happened in the co-chair race. Where did Jim Kurtenback come from? Why did the central committee hide his name from all of us? What is the agenda in that?
ReplyDeleteWhy did Leon Mosely only get 4 votes? Why did Pate only get 4 even though Steve King backed him? Why didnt Danny Carroll want to be Strawn's co-chair? Who voted for who?
I have to admit..this does smell of a backroom deal here. No one was aware that Kurtenbach was even a candidate for any of the executive offices. Why wasn't he at the forum a couple of weeks back to allow people to ask him questions?
ReplyDeleteI can tell you that people out here in Eastern Iowa don't know Strawn or Kurtenbach from a hill of beans.
It appears once again, Polk and Story County control..and Eastern Iowa gets ignored again.
As a NW Iowan firmly convinced that the vast majority of the State of Iowa, including the RPI (who just likes our votes), ignores the area most of the time, I have only accolades for the new team. Recall that Mr. Strawn toured the state prior to his appointment. I am not aware that his opponents did the same, or maybe they chose only to meet privately. Mr. Kurtenbach is a respected former state legislator and has addressed western Iowa groups before.
ReplyDeleteAre any of these votes done on a roll call basis or is it all secret ballot?
ReplyDeleteAnon 11:31
ReplyDeleteWell thats well and good that Kurtenbach has 'addresed western Iowa groups before"..but again..my point is that NO ONE had any idea that he was a Co-Chair candidate.
He was not at the RPI Forum a couple of weeks back to answer questions from the public.
Here we have an indivdual as our Co-Chair, whom people outside of Polk/Story county..don't know a whole lot about...
So yes..there is cause to be concerned..we were told this was going to be a "transparent" process...but it looks very much like another backroom deal was made...
sounds like a deal was made to me. last minute candidate shows up in an otherwise open proceeding and wins?
ReplyDeleteI respectfully disagree with criticisms of the process as a "backroom deal." Bear in mind the process was far more transparent than in past years, and for that the SCC should be commended, rather than criticized. To bring greater transparency, these positions could be elected at State Convention, but that process would also be fraught with problems. Further, as I understand it, the forum was for the position of Chairman...not Co-Chair, Secretary and Treasurer. That is not to suggest the process is perfect, but I, for one, am impressed with the improvements and the caliber of those elected. It's also important to show respect for good people like Leon Mosley and Danny Carroll; this election doesn't reflect negatively on them, and they'll continue to have an influence. Too often, in my opinion, we focus on titles or positions rather than the mission at hand: To Win Elections. As LT Daniel Kaffee ("A Few Good Men") once said, "You don't need to wear a patch on your arm to have honor." Carry yourself with honor no matter your position, and remember that whatever distracts you from your mission...be it titles, egos or hurt feelings...will only ensure that mission is left unfulfilled.
ReplyDeleteBrent Hoffman
Sioux City
I'm happy with the board as it stands, but would like to have seen Pate in the Co-Chair position; just thought it would lend some balance but that's just me.
ReplyDeleteCarolyn Williams
Muscatine
I am suprised how many people caught on to the back room deals that were made during this chair election. You had a principled conservative candidate that follows the platform against a status quo, establishment guy. I can tell you with a great deal of certainty (100%) that the principled candidate had deals thrown at him but didn't take them because he plays by a different set of rules. That leaves you with the establishment guy. You don't suppose he compromised and took and/or cut a back room deal do you? Omce again the establishment hard at work for sticking it to the conservatives again. Get used to the minority, we will be here a long time if we campaign without or core message as all indications are pointing. Everybody pray that there are still solid platform activists that don't leave the party or you will have no volunteers to pick up the moderates slack!
ReplyDelete8:54PM - bump for record # of pronouns used in a paragraph. huh???
ReplyDelete"It is time for those people to eat some crow."- Excuse me?
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure who writes this blog, but I will say this--I'm a social conservative and I voted for Mr. Strawn. Why? Because he is qualified capable. Furthermore, for the record, he too is a social conservative. We had two good candidates to choose from. This was not a vote between a social conservatives and non social conservatives. Furthermore, what is wrong with supporting family values and life--do you disagree with this mission of the Party? BTW, what happened to all the comments for unity or building the Party to move forward.
Just an observation: The person who writes this blog must not be a social conservative or he/she wouldn't attack them.
Kim you missed the point.
ReplyDeleteThe people who need to eat crow are those who kept saying that the SCC is single minded or only care about one issue. I’m talking about the number of anonymous posters here who have railed against the SCC, and other Republican opinion makers like Doug Gross and Steve Roberts.
I thought that Saturday's vote proved that this group of SCC members are independent minded and made their decision to do what they think is best for the Party, unlike what many thought would happen in this election.
Thanks for reading.
HK
We are in good shape and we must now get on with the business of informing the people of Iowa of the dangers of Democrat policies.
ReplyDeleteUnless the people are completely brain dead (and considering the state of modern education they may be) they may be begging for Republicans to regain some power. We must be ready.
I'm so glad to see that Kim Lehman reads this blog. Maybe she will get a clue as to how much the grassroots hate her for her actions that resulted in censure.
ReplyDeleteSee you in four years Judas err Judette.
Many of us in the grassroots hate Miller-Meeks too. That dosent make what Kim did right, she should have kept he mouth closed because as sick as it may make me, 3M won a primary and it isnt our place to tear down the person who wins our primary.
ReplyDeleteHmm...
ReplyDeleteDoes News Flash = Peter Teahen?
Have fun with your made up Master's Degrees and "staring down .50 cal machine guns" in Darfur...
A little bitter are we?
Strawn is a Social Conservative Kim, come on! So was John McCain who Strawn supported and worked for...NOT! Let's contrast McCain and Strawn with Obama on Social Issues...Obama=Pro-Choice McCain/Strawn=Pro Choice (Of course until 8 Years ago when he needed pro-lifers vote for presidency so really he is now fake pro-life...Mc Cain/Strawn are the same as Obama the most liberal democrat on life.
ReplyDeleteObama=approves Civil Unions. McCain/Strawn=approves civil unions.
This tells me that Strawn and McCain are identical to Obama on social issues. Boy, Strawn is a social conservative. Thanks for enlightening me. and thanks for selling out Kim!
Kim- just in case you read these comments- there are many Iowa Republicans that appreciate your efforts on behalf of Iowans. A previous poster, in a fit of anger and with a mean spirit posted differently. I am sorry that there are fellow human beings that come to sites like this to share such sentiments.
ReplyDeleteI am glad you read the blogs, as hurtful as some must be to view. Just know that not all of us are so narrow minded and quick to share unkind words.
Stop talking to yourself Kim.
ReplyDeleteClearly there is an idiot (10:53)among us. Idiots don't look at the truth when it stares them in the face. Matt Strawn is pro-life and has been even in the days he was working for Mike Rogers. John McCain is pro-life, show me one thing he did that supported abortion and I will show you bills and legislation going back 20 years that show pro-life votes. It is stupid people like you who cannot open your eyes after primary propaganda that are causing discourse across this state and will result in pro-choice policies forever. Grow up and get a brain!
ReplyDelete11:31 from NW Iowa -
ReplyDeleteIgnored? You held the State Chair with Ray Hoffman for years. Laudner was ED with ties to that area.
The GOP leaders of the House and Senate were based out of there.
You current SCC members are excellent leaders with much input into the leadership.
Districts 1 & 2 would have better claim to being ignored. But we must remember each District does have the same amount of votes and ultiamtely controls their own aount of true repesentation.
Kim, I think you're a hottie.
ReplyDeleteClean it up
ReplyDeletewho's going to put up the... "why can't we all just get along" post. Even together we republicans don't come close to the democrat # of voters in this state folks.
ReplyDeletewe have work to do; sniping and measurements of who's more republican is pointless.
Even Steve S said on IPTV that we need (or he would accepts the need for) different types of candidates in different districts if it meant a better chance of getting elected.
and our newly elected leaders need our support.
My hope is our Republican National Committeepeople will lead the unification effort by example.
carolyn Williams
muscatine
or... how to unintentially kill a comments thread...
ReplyDelete:::smile:::
carolyn
"Even Steve S said on IPTV that we need (or he would accepts the need for) different types of candidates in different districts if it meant a better chance of getting elected."
ReplyDeleteWell said. It's the truth. We have jackasses in the process of destroying Iowa and the nation. We have to unite to save what we have left.
If the process was open and fair, why were SCC members talking to the DM Register the day before the vote?!?!?!?
ReplyDeletezzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
ReplyDelete