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IowaPolitics.com: Political parties revved up for two of the year’s biggest fundraisers
6/25/2009

By Lynn Campbell
IowaPolitics.com

This week more than 1,000 people will attend two of Iowa’s biggest political fundraisers, which are expected to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for Republicans and Democrats as the parties gear up for the 2010 midterm elections.

Republicans will hold their “Night of the Rising Stars” at Hoyt Sherman Place on Thursday. “This will be a six-figure fundraiser for the party,” said executive director Jeff Boeyink. “The event also serves the important purpose of introducing the new Republican Party of Iowa to our activists, donors and the Iowa political community.”

Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour will headline the event, which has already received significant media interest. Iowa Republicans hope to take lessons from Barbour, who was chairman of the Republican National Committee in 1994 when the GOP made its comeback. He then returned home to Mississippi to take out a sitting Democratic incumbent governor.

“Sounds familiar to our challenge, doesn’t it, Iowa Republicans?” asked Republican Party of Iowa Chairman Matt Strawn, whose key goal is to unseat Democratic Gov. Chet Culver next year.

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After South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford's escapades in Argentina, Barbour this week became chairman of the Republican Governor's Association, so he will be at the forefront of helping Iowa Republicans in their attempt to reclaim Terrace Hill next year. Boeyink said the foundations that Republicans build in 2009 are critical to their success in 2010, so the party’s activity level will remain high from now until November 2010.

Sixteen new, young Republican state legislators will also be featured at the business-casual GOP event, expected to be attended by more than 700 people. A cocktail reception will be followed by what organizers describe as an innovative program including video, music, lighting and other special effects “to showcase the new energy and enthusiasm the party is experiencing.” Tickets start at $50 for those age 35 and under; all other seats are $100 and range up to $1,000 for a sponsor.

“Our party is making a tremendous difference here in the state of Iowa. We are rebuilt, re-energized and ready to re-take our state in 2010,” said Strawn, who’s nearing the six-month mark as state GOP chairman. “We have a phenomenal group of young, emerging Republican leaders that we’re going to showcase that evening.”

Two days later, Democrats will welcome back former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack, former First Lady Christie Vilsack and former state party chairwoman and Lt. Gov. Sally Pederson for the “10th Anniversary Hall of Fame Ceremony” at Drake University.

“Democrats in Iowa have enjoyed tremendous success in the past few election cycles,” said Iowa Democratic Party Chairman Michael Kiernan. “That success was built on the foundation that was created by Tom and Christie Vilsack and Sally Pederson during the historic 1998 election.”

When Vilsack and Pederson took over the governor’s office on January 15, 1999, they broke a 30-year drought for Democrats in that office. That alone would have probably been enough to get them into the Iowa Democratic Party Hall of Fame, but Pederson says the administration has a lot to be proud of beyond capturing the Capitol.

“I think we used our opportunity while in office to do things Democrats had been pushing for a long time,” said Pederson, the former lieutenant governor. “Expanding access to health care, improving opportunity for employment of people. Specifically I worked on a number of things that had to do with health care for people with disabilities, and mental health parity.”

Pederson cited Vision Iowa, the state’s large-scale community attractions grant program, as a major accomplishment for the administration, saying it created jobs across the state while improving recreation and leisure opportunities for Iowans.

“And then we had some major initiatives to improve education and increase access to early childhood education,” Pederson said. “So I think there are a lot of areas in which we promoted the principles and the values of the Democratic Party and improved the lives of the people of the state.”

The weekend gathering honoring Pederson and the Vilsacks is one of the Iowa Democratic Party’s two annual fundraisers. While the crowd is expected to be about half the size at around 300 people, tickets range from $50 to $500 per person, with hosts contributing up to $5,000. Top-dollar tickets include a private host reception featuring the honored guests and top elected officials, front-and-center seating at the awards ceremony, and special recognition.

“This event is different than the dinners of the past,” said Norm Sterzenbach, executive director of the Iowa Democratic Party, who said heavy hors d'oeuvres will be served. “We are trying some new ideas to liven up the event. There is no formal dress code, dress generally ranges from casual to business.”

Both parties produced videos on YouTube promoting their respective fundraisers – fulfilling promises by both new chairmen to increase the use of technology and social networking tools.

The Republicans’ video is upbeat and features Strawn in front of Hoyt Sherman Place, while Democrats’ video is more of a warm-and-fuzzy tribute to Vilsack and Pederson, with Iowa’s former governor who’s now U.S. agriculture secretary talking about the courage to create change and pursue the American dream. Executive directors of both parties said the videos have helped participation and interest.

“Our invitation video has helped generate a significant buzz for the event, particularly amongst the young professionals we are actively seeking to attract to the party,” Boeyink said. “We expect this, and other technology based outreach efforts, will bring a significant youth presence to the event.”  


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