The Iowa Democratic Party is set to select its next party chair on January 21 in what is expected to be a wide-open contest following the 2016 losses. Eight candidates are vying for the position: Sandy Dockendorff, Derek Eadon, Mike Gronstal, Bob Krause, Blair Lawton, Kurt Meyer, Julie Stauch and Kim Weaver. Krause just recently announced his bid this past week.
Two major public forums are set for this Friday and Saturday to give Democrats and the State Central Committee members (the 49 people who vote on it) a chance to ask questions and let the candidates lay out their proposals. All candidates except Gronstal are currently scheduled to attend. All eight of the candidates have participated in several phone conferences with individual IDP caucus committees in recent weeks, most were at an IDP 3rd District meeting and seven of them have presented “white papers” on their plans.
The Political Party is hosting the first one this Friday, December 16, at 6:00 PM on Grand View University in the Speed Lyceum Student Center. They’re asking people interested in attending to register in advance. The panel forum will be moderated by Zach Mannheimer, Mandy McWherter and Stacey Walker. Each candidate has been given a lengthy questionnaire in advance to fill out, which will be publicly shared for everyone.
The discussion looks to talk about the candidates’ vision for the party, how they plan to rebuild it after recent election losses and how they’ll bring new voices and ideas into the process. The Political Party was formed this Fall as a group for millennial Iowans to get better engaged in state politics. They held two large events in Des Moines and Iowa City that featured TED-style talks, live music and performance art, with over 500 attendees. Their steering committee includes Izaah Knox, Jack Hatch, Simeon Talley, Misty Rebik, Veronica Tessler, Mandy McWherter, Mazie Stillwell, Stacey Walker and Zach Mannheimer.
The IDP State Central Committee will host their formal forum for the chair candidates at their regular meeting on Saturday. This was originally going to be the date for the actual election, but the SCC voted to move that back to January to have more time to consider the candidates. This meeting is Saturday at 10:00 AM at the United Steelworkers Local 310 Hall at 125 NW Broadway in Des Moines.
by Pat Rynard
Posted 12/14/16
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