Local GOP settle on platform

Jasper County Republicans finalized their party’s updated platform and also created a list of delegates to send to the upcoming district and state conventions. Elected officials vying to maintain a seat — and a candidate with ambitions to dethrone a Democratic incumbent — had a chance to promote their campaigns.

Thad Nearmyer, chairperson of the Jasper County Republican Party, said the convention produced about 19 delegates and alternates on Saturday inside the Newton Community Theatre at the local YMCA. Those delegates will discuss the county party’s platform at the district and state levels.

Deciding on a platform mostly everyone agreed with was a difficult task, and it could get messy at times. Discussions and disagreements specifically surrounding the platform language slowed the pace of the meeting, but such action may be necessary. Nearmyer said it is also quite common.

Jon Dunwell, a Republican candidate running for Iowa House District 29, described the county conventions as the party’s “grassroots process.” This is how the average person gets to impact the Republican Party, he said. This is where the platform starts.

“It starts in the caucus level, it comes here, it goes to the district level, goes to the state level and then goes to the national level,” Dunwell said. “This is actually the grassroots process of engagement. This is the only way we can get representation.”

Nearmyer praised the volunteers for their work in helping the process go as smooth as it could. In the future, he expects more will be done to streamline platform discussions and any amendments. Either way, the action that goes on at conventions is important to the party and process of government.

“It’s important our local voters work their way through the process from the caucus to the conventions,” he said. “It’s a very hands-on approach to government. This is where it all begins.”

Elected officials & candidates speak

Jasper County Supervisor Doug Cupples, who is up for re-election this year, told the crowd the three-person board is still made up of different personalities despite consisting of all Republicans. They sometimes all shake their heads at each other or may have disagreements.

“But at the end of the day, we’re fiscal conservatives,” Cupples said. “And we are working hard on keeping that intact.”

The county’s present urban tax levy rate is at $8.25, which will decrease to about $7.84, Cupples said. The current rural rate is $11.63, which will become $10.44 next fiscal year. The board, he said, is now fully supporting the secondary roads department, referencing the recent decisions on contract rock and maintenance.

Dunwell, who is running for the seat held by Wes Breckenridge, targeted his opponent’s voting record. He claimed Breckenridge “has voted consistently with the Democratic Party on almost every issue.” He also spoke of his concerns about the opposing party from a national level.

“You realize politics is rolling down hill,” Dunwell said. “So what we see happening on the national Democratic Party is going to be what is represented in the Iowa Democratic Party.”

Republicans hold a majority in the Iowa House and Iowa Senate, and have control of the governor seat, which Dunwell suggested is responsible for reducing taxes and having a heartbeat law, among other things. Maintaining the majority is going to be difficult, but Dunwell claimed Breckenridge’s seat is “vulnerable.”

Sen. Amy Sinclair, R-Allerton, is running unopposed for her Iowa Senate District 14 seat. Still, she asking for her party’s support, especially since matters could change by the end of the opposite party’s conventions. And, in turn, she will support them and their candidates of choice.

She recalled her tenure in the Iowa Legislature in 2016, which allowed Republican majority to pass bills that she said kept Iowa moving in a direction that builds for the entrepreneur, reduces regulation, cuts taxes and is pro-family and pro-jobs.

"From the first day we took office until this day, we've been passing (bills)," Sinclair said. "We passed the largest tax cut in Iowa history. The largest tax cut in Iowa history … Today, Iowa — depending on the month you look at — is in the top three lowest for unemployment. Iowans are working."

Rep. Jon Thorup, R-rural Knoxville, does not have an official opponent either. He joked he came up with a “new goal” for next year: To be “the most brief-speaking legislator in Iowa.” This is also something he’s trying out now.

“I appreciate your confidence,” Thorup said.

Contact Christopher Braunschweig at 641-792-3121 ext. 6560 or cbraunschweig@newtondailynews.com