Jasper County GOP fills out roster for state seats

Three Republican candidates running for state office took the stage during the Jasper County Republican Convention on Saturday. Each candidate is fresh to their respective races, just getting their campaigns underway.

Jon Thorup is running for Iowa House District 28 seat currently held by Rep. Greg Heartsill. Heartsill announced last week he would not be seeking re-election.

Thorup is a lifelong citizen of Iowa, currently residing in Knoxville, who worked as an Iowa State Trooper. After receiving a substantial amount of phone calls and emails, Thorup said he agreed to enter the race for the Republican Party.

“I am proud to have always called central Iowa my home," Thorup said. "I was raised and educated in Knoxville, and I’m very glad to still live here.”

As a state trooper, Thorup is concerned about the safety of our state including the many preventable deaths that have taken place on Iowa's roads and the hundreds of unsolved homicides in the books. He also wants to concentrate on preparing the state in the case of a terrorist act or school violence incident.

The Knoxville Veterans Affairs campus is also high on his list as well as the mental health crisis in Iowa.

“We have several talented people in the community that have tried cutting through the red tape out there. I think the state has a few resources that could help those people do something positive with that campus.  It’s just a matter of lining things up the right way at the right times,” Thorup said. “(In regards to mental health,) the earlier in a person’s life that we can recognize and treat any mental health concerns, the better the chances that they can live a happy and productive life.”

Also contending for a seat in the house is Ann Howell. Howell is looking to challenge incumbent Democrat Rep. Wes Breckenridge who is serving his first term in District 29.

Howell's candidacy started with a chance interaction with Jasper County Supervisor candidate Rhonda Paine. Paine was knocking door-to-door to gain signatures for her candidacy and met Howell. After talking with Howell for a while, Paine thought she might have found someone who was interested in running.

Having a background in education, Howell is concerned about the current state of Iowa's schools and students.

"Seventeen years in the school system as an assistant to the building administration I have watched the erosion of social skills, civility, decency, decorum, accountability, family values and America's values," Howell said. "It has been replaced with political correctness, self-importance, dependency and lack of forethought. My goal is to mix up things for the betterment of our children. Also, to inform the taxpayers that are not the ones who are directly involved with the schools."

The Republicans got a two-for-one deal by meeting Howell when they found out her father, Tim Shay, was interested in running for Senate District 15 seat currently held by Chaz Allen.

Shay, who currently resides in Newton, has done a lot of behind the scenes work including getting citizens registered to vote, Jasper County Republican Party Chair Thad Nearmyer said.

Nearmyer said he thinks Shay's success will be based on his enthusiasm and his work ethic. He said he thinks Shay will be a good campaigner because he’ll wake up every day and hit the streets and start knocking on doors.

"He’s ready to meet people and listen to their concerns," Nearmyer said.

Shay, a Navy veteran, has been married 58 years and worked most of his life for AT&T. He is a firm supporter of the Jasper County Republican platform including the right to life, second amendment rights, school safety and veterans issues.

"I am a staunch believer in the second amendment," Shay said. "I feel many people want to interpret the Bill of Rights to fit their own ideas of their own agenda."

Nomination papers for any candidate interested in running for state house and senate seats are due on Friday.

During the convention, supervisor Denny Carpenter announced his intentions to run for re-election and Jeremy Heaberlin also put his name in for a supervisor seat.

Contact Jamee A. Pierson at 641-792-3121 ext. 6534 or jpierson@newtondailynews.com