SULLIVAN'S SALVOS
November 5, 2020
Sullivan’s Salvos 11/10/20
In this edition:
*RIP Dottie Maher
*Happy 90th Carol Spaziani!
*Veteran’s Day
*Election Recap
*Thanks!
*Election Thoughts
*Did You Know?
*RIP Dottie Maher
I wanted to note the passing of Dottie Maher. Dottie worked in the County Attorney’s Office for a few years, and did a brief stint on the University Heights City Council. She also spent well over 20 years on the Johnson County Board of Adjustment. A life of service. RIP, Dottie.
*Happy 90th Carol Spaziani!
Happy 90th birthday to one of my mentors, heroes, and favorite people! Carol Spaziani just turned 90, and like many Johnson County residents, I am a better person for just having known her. We did a little drive-by birthday party at Oaknoll; I certainly wish we could have done more, because she deserves it! Thank you for everything, Carol! And Happy Birthday!
*Veteran’s Day
Happy Veteran’s Day on November 11. Thanks to all the men and women who have served our country. I appreciate your service, and wish you peace.
Veterans For Peace Chapter #161 is sponsoring an Armistice Day Observance to be held virtually on Wednesday, November 11th. Armistice Day is a day to promote peace and to remember the victims of war, both veterans and civilians. Bells will be rung at 11:00 AM, as they were rung around the world at the end of WWI in 1918 and on each November 11th for decades thereafter. Look for more info as to how you can join the Zoom event.
*Election Recap
The 2020 Election is mostly in the books. Here it goes, race by race:
President: Shades of 2000! As I send this, Biden appears to have defeated Trump, but it is taking a few additional days of counting. Now let’s hope the Supreme Court stays out of this!
Trump won Iowa by 8%. I’ll just leave that there. In Johnson County, the Biden number was 71-27. The 2020 presidential election was the sixth consecutive presidential election in which Johnson County set a new turnout record, with 84,108 voters. We also set a new record for turnout, with 86.05%.
US Senate: Incumbent Senator Joni Ernst defeated Democrat Theresa Greenfield 52-46. This was a huge disappointment to me; I really thought Greenfield had a shot. Nationally, it appears Democrats picked up 1 seat, with one to be decided in December, leaving a razor-thin GOP advantage. But trust me – Mitch McConnell will treat any advantage as though it is the ultimate advantage.
US House: Again things went badly in Iowa. In our own 2nd District, Republican Marianette Miller-Meeks narrowly leads Democrat Rita Hart in an election where counting continues. We are just going to need to see how this one plays out. Johnson County gave Hart about 68% of the vote; I was confident we could break 70%. Had all the Biden voters also voted for Hart, she would have won comfortably. Obviously, we didn’t get it done. And it mattered.
JD Schloton, who is a great guy, lost his uphill battle in Iowa’s 4th. Democratic Representative Cindy Axne barely held on in Iowa’s 3rd District. I am heartbroken over Iowa’s 1st District, where incumbent Democrat Abby Finkenauer lost to GOP challenger Ashley Hinson. Finkenauer was a really good member of Congress; this really sucks. Nationally, Democrats netted a loss of a few seats, and hold a lead of approximately 226-209.
Iowa Senate: We started the night behind 32-18. Democrats never thought they could overcome that margin, but expected to pick up a couple of seats. Well, it didn’t happen. When the smoke cleared, it remained 32-18. So look for Republicans in Des Moines to try to implement their mandate.
Iowa House: If you are a Democrat, this is your disaster. We started the night behind 53-47. Now we trail 59-41. Again, look for Republicans in Des Moines to try to implement their mandate. Johnson County Sheriff Lonny Pulkrabek fought a valiant fight, but ended up losing in his quest for HD73. Lonny – thank you for your efforts! Another person I wanted to call out – Democratic Representative Jeff Kurtz of Fort Madison was defeated in his attempt to hold his seat. Jeff is a damn good person, a true friend of labor, and I wish him well.
Locally, Brad Kunkel will become our new Sheriff in January, while all the other Courthouse incumbents won their races.
*Thanks!
I was reelected on Tuesday to a fifth term. It is an honor and a privilege to represent the people of Johnson County. Please believe me when I tell you that I will never take this for granted. I promise to do my best to earn your trust. My sincere thanks for your support!
I am always willing to listen to your comments and concerns. Please feel free to contact me at this e-mail address, or by phone at the Board Office (356-6000) or home (354-7199).
*Election Thoughts
Needless to say, this was the strangest election ever. I typically spend hundreds of hours marching in parades, knocking on doors, leafletting, talking strategy, going to events, and making phone calls. All of that disappeared except the phone calls. Good Lord I am tired of phone calls!
For what it is worth, I think the decision not to knock doors hurt Democrats. I understand why they made the decision they did. But it hurt.
I take a bit of credit for one of the good things this election season – that being Johnson County’s drive through voting. Auditor Weipert was considering renting a property to do the same thing, but I urged him to stay on the County campus and try the ramp. I think it worked pretty well, but only because of the tremendous leadership of Auditor Weipert, Deputy Auditor Bogdana Velterean, all the permanent and temporary Auditor’s Office employees, and all the SEATS drivers who made things flow.
Democrats did well here, as expected, but PLEASE don’t take that for granted! Huge props to Ed Cranston, Chair of the local Democratic Party, and all his Executive Board. They did a great job in difficult circumstances, and Ed’s leadership was crucial.
Also a shout out to the incredible Iowa City Eastside Dems! This group of women has inspired some other groups (westside, northside) but I am most familiar with my home girls! Seriously, the organization they have created is unbelievable! Women have been leading things since ’16 – nowhere more so than the eastside of Iowa City!
Now comes the difficult part. Democrats in DC don’t have much of a path to get things done. Democrats in Des Moines have a smaller voice. And Democrats locally have plenty of challenges they need to face. Democrats in Iowa need to take stock. I hate to say it, but I don’t see much of anything changing. The same old people will get invited to the table, have the same discussions, and make the same decisions. I hope I am wrong, but I doubt it.
*DID YOU KNOW? There are just under 100,000 registered voters in Johnson County.
Anyone interested in learning more about County government should take a look at the County website-
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---Rod
posted by Rod Sullivan @ 12:04 PM
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