SULLIVAN'S SALVOS
April 23, 2011
Sullivan’s Salvos 4/26/11
In this edition:
*May Day
*Congressman Loebsack
*Take Back the Night
*Democratic Party Hall of Fame Event
*Other Weekend Events
*Did You Know?
*May Day
I celebrate May Day. You should, too! May Day continues to be a worldwide worker’s holiday; it used to be celebrated in the US, too, until McCarthyism. So feel free – celebrate May Day!
*Congressman Loebsack
As you may have heard, Iowa’s Second District US Congressman Dave Loebsack plans to move to Johnson County in an attempt to continue to represent SE Iowa in the US House of Representatives.
I wholeheartedly support Congressman Loebsack, and it goes well beyond party politics. Please allow me to explain:
First and foremost, and in the spirit of full disclosure, I have considered Dave a friend since the mid-90s. I was fairly heavily involved in the Johnson County Democratic Party at the time, and Loebsack was frequently in attendance at our meetings and events. I will admit, at first I wasn’t sure what to think of someone who gets that involved in a neighboring county. When I asked, it became clear – as a professor, he was always interested in observing and learning. From that day forward, I always smiled at his enthusiasm. The guy enjoys politics!
Dave and I got to know each other well during the 1998 Osterberg for Senate campaign. I volunteered several days each week, while Loebsack took time away from teaching to run the campaign. We made a lot of phone calls, stuffed a lot of envelopes, and got to know each other much better. We have lots of mutual friends, we are both in AFT716, and we both love to visit Sutliff.
OK. All that is personal, and we all have personal friends who would not make good Members of Congress. So let’s discuss Dave’s record. Do we agree on everything? Of course not. But Dave and his staff are willing to listen to our points of view.
I think the best recommendation of our Congressman is his hard work on the Armed Services Committee. Congressman Loebsack has won awards for his dedication to veteran’s issues. Every veteran’s group gives him a 100% rating. He has completely won over hard core Republicans who care about this issue; they recognize his efforts.
Does Dave care about veterans? Of course. But you would get the same results if it were education, labor, health care, agriculture, or any other topic. That is because Dave WORKS. The guy is a tireless worker, and he will pursue an issue with a doggedness that would amaze you! I have seen it, and it is real!
Another example of Dave’s work is the aftermath of the flood. In addition to getting things done in DC, Dave worked shoulder to shoulder with our local victims. I must share a story that says it all:
I spent a few days sandbagging at Thatcher Mobile Home Court in Iowa City. This location was not high profile like the UI buildings; it is a location full of poor and working class people. They were not flush with money nor volunteers. So, who showed up and joined us sandbagging? Dave.
You should have heard the residents of Thatcher as word spread throughout the workers. “Our Congressman is here? And he’s actually working?” “You mean here’s here, even though there are no cameras?” It is safe to say that those folks all gained an appreciation for Dave’s genuineness that day.
Most politicians were born with silver spoons in their mouths. Not Dave. Congressman Loebsack grew up in poverty, the son of a single mother who struggled with mental illness. Every Democrat claims to support the “least among us”, but few actually know what it is like. I can guarantee you that Dave will NEVER vote against Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, and the like. Those programs kept his family afloat when he was a kid, and he has not forgotten his roots.
Interestingly, many politicians are also born with POLITICAL silver spoons in their mouths. A remarkable number of Governors, Senators, and Representatives are the daughters and sons of political movers and shakers. Not Dave. You just read his background above.
Look, I know a lot of people are jealous of Dave. Every one of them had the opportunity to run in 2006. Loebsack was no big name. Dave won the nomination by default. Any big shot could have had the nomination. I am certain that many people out there regret the fact that they chose not to run, but hindsight is 20/20. Dave had the courage, and Dave won.
I could write more, but you get the idea. I wholeheartedly support Congressman Dave Loebsack as he runs for reelection to the US House of Representatives.
*Take Back the Night
April 28 at 7 PM is the annual Take Back the Night event. Join us for an empowering march supporting survivors and symbolically making the night safer. Meet at 7pm on the UI Pentacrest lawn.
This event, part of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, is co-sponsored by the Women’s Resource and Action Center and RVAP.
*Democratic Party Hall of Fame
The Johnson County Democratic Party is holding a Hall of Fame awards ceremony on Saturday, May 7 at 7 PM at the Marriott in Coralville.
Honorees are Ralph & Arlene Neuzil, Jae Retz & Roberta Till-Retz, and Dick & Doris Myers.
Tickets to this event are $25; for more info, please send me an E-mail!
*Other Weekend Events
There is a very busy weekend ahead in Johnson County… the NAMI Walk and ACLU Banquet are two usual stops for me. Unfortunately, I will not be at either one, as my daughter Jordan is running at the Drake Relays. That is Johnson County for you – more cool things to attend than you can possibly grace with your presence!
*DID YOU KNOW? Lost in the huge census gains of some other Johnson County cities was the solid growth of Lone Tree. Lone Tree grew 141 people (12.2%) from 1159 to 1300.
Anyone interested in learning more about County government should take a look at the County website-
www.johnson-county.com.
"Sullivan’s Salvos" is sent once per week to any interested party. It will give a brief update on issues of interest to Johnson County residents.
These messages come solely from Rod Sullivan, and neither represents the viewpoints of the whole Board of Supervisors nor those of groups or individuals otherwise mentioned.
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As always, feel free to contact me at 354-7199 or rodsullivan@mchsi.com. I look forward to serving you!
---Rod
posted by Rod Sullivan @ 2:23 PM
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