Local Republicans honor Latham at annual meeting
By ANDREW POTTER – Staff Writer, Times-Republican
STATE CENTER – Redistricting is pushing Rep. Tom Latham, R-Iowa, out of the area district so Saturday felt like a swan song as the congressman spoke at the annual meeting of the Marshall County Republicans at Lincoln Valley Golf Course. He thanked area Republicans for their support through the years and they gave him a standing ovation.
"You folks have been absolutely fantastic," Latham said.
Latham has made the choice to move to the congressional district currently led by Leonard Boswell, D-Iowa, and is optimistic he will be able to take his seat.
"We are going to win sizably," Latham said.
Latham and Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, both spoke about what they called out of control spending by President Barack Obama and the Democrats in Washington, D.C. Both said spending reductions are in order and they do not want to raise the debt limit.
"We have got to do something and do something huge," Latham said.
Grassley said he feels the next president is within the crowded Republican field of candidates or future candidates yet to be announced.
"The cream will float to the top and we’ll have a candidate that will end up at the top," Grassley said.
Speaking of runs for political office, Jane Jech announced she will run for the Iowa Senate and oppose Sen. Steve Sodders, D-State Center, in 2012. The Marshalltown resident had two unsuccessful runs for the Iowa House and said she enjoyed campaigning and meeting people.
"I look forward to continuing that contact with people and hearing their issues," Jech said. "I just feel very passionate about the issues of conservatives."
The dinner meeting also featured other state and local politicians, including Senate Republican Leader Paul McKinley of Chariton. He said the budget stalemate in Des Moines could soon be over.
"I believe we are very, very close to hopefully getting out of there," McKinley said.
The money raised from Saturday’s dinner fundraiser will be used to open local Republican headquarters and be spent on the caucus next year.