Johnson County Dems Live, September Edition

Johnson County Dems Live, September Edition

A noisy newsletter stuffin' meeting for the Johnson County Dems tonight.

October 6 Dems BBQ: Dodd is committed. As for the others: "With the Gravel campaign, I can't tell if I'm talking to the guy in mail room or the guy in charge," says Brian Flaherty. "Might be the same guy." As for the others, "no one has refused." And lots and lots of the logistics of the year's biggest fundraiser.

Loebsack rep Dave Leshtz says lots of calls about the war, health care and, interestingly, cigarette tax opponents. Also a lot of interest in HR811, the voting equipment bill. "They're still working on that so that states would not have to bust their budgets to comply," says Dave for Dave.

Sparks fly with candidate surveys and potential endorsements. Feisty debate at even the process of endorsing one way or another on 21 bars next month, which is a nice preview of the heat next month. Takes a 2/3 vote to endorse next month, and the votes aren't going to be there either way.

As for the city council race, we have three candidates here: Mike Wright, Matt Hayek, Brandon Ross. Much much much tedious debate over how the rules work; some folks want to endorse all three and that's against the rules. So after 45 minutes of debate that barely touched on the candidates, they tabled it. But in about two minutes flat, they endorse the unopposed Regenia Bailey -- the party's first ever endorsement in a non-partisan race.

County supervisor Rod Sullivan: "It's clear that the intent of this group is to separate three of these candidates from the other two." But after another half hour or so of debate, no one could figure out a way to put "Brandon, Mike and Matt are all three good guys" into the form of a resolution. A quick peek at the voter files reveals that Dee Vanderhoef is a registered Republican

Finally, at 9:25, the poor staffers and candidate supporters get to speak. That's right, 9:25 and 15 speakers on the list. Rod Sullivan for Obama: "I support a candidate who had the courage to oppose this war ahead of time."

Patti Fields of the school board gives regretful props to stepping-down member Aletia Morgan: "Yesterday we split 4-3, it's the same bloc every time, and I have the feeling next year it's going to be 5-2." Fields said Liz Crooks, the other progressive on the board, is stepping down when her term ends next year. Morgan: "We need some progressive voices there."

Sheriff Lonny Pulkrabek surprises no one in saying he's running again. 9/22 at the Moose, 11 to 2, he kicks it off. "Lots of Bidens have been in Johnson County," says the staffer. Biden HQ is now open upstairs from LaJames, 123 N. Linn.

Team Hillary staffer reads the talking points, endorsements, and appearances ("She mentioned Iowa five times on Letterman.") Gets a zing in at Brandon Ross who called himself "an FDR Democrat not a Clinton Democrat." Madeline Albright coming to town on Thursday 9/13.

Team Edwards does similar. Interesting -- like last night at the University Dems, Obama has a local person speak (Dick Myers last night, Sullivan tonight), and the others had staffers. Bob Dvorsky has his picnic tomorrow night 6 to 8 at Morrison Park in Coralville -- free for presidential campaign staffers, he says. The big speaker is -- hold your breath now -- Coralville candidate Mitch Gross!

Team Dodd praises all the rivals. Dodd HQ in Coralville opening "in next 10 days." No word from Team Richardson. That's a night before 10 PM.