Teahen considering a run against Loebsack

[IA_Seth]

http://www.gazetteonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080109/NEWS/224412804/1006/NEWS

Teahen considering a congressional run

CEDAR RAPIDS — Peter Teahen, funeral director, mass fatalities expert and American Red Cross disaster volunteer and spokesman, is considering a Republican run for the District 2 Congressional seat.

Teahen, 54, president of Teahen Funeral Home, acknowledged Wednesday that he's exploring a campaign run against freshman Congressman Dave Loebsack, a Democrat, but said he won't make a decision for a week or two.

Teahen's interest came to light because he used last week's Republican caucuses as a time to obtain signatures on nomination petitions, one of the hurdles required to run for office.

"Right now we're looking at the options and seeing where the political environment is at," he said.

(snip)

The possible primary opponents for Cedar Rapids-native Teahen are Mount Pleasant prison chaplain Lee Harder and Ottumwa ophthalmologist Mariannette Miller-Meeks.

Teahen is president of the non-profit International Mass Fatality Center and has served as a national American Red Cross spokesman at the sites of natural disasters, including Hurricane Katrina.

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Teahen is pretty well respected in Cedar Rapids. I don't know what his name recog is outside of Linn County, but if he does decide to run I think we'll all be needed to help Dave.

[rurallib]

1. Well he sounds like a decent person

But I think Dave has done a pretty bang up job of getting out in the public and helping folks out.
The Repubs nationally are in disarray and it seems to show here. No disrespect to Mr. Teahan, but I would think they would need a more recognizable name. The optometrist from Ottumwa is in much the same boat.
However, I hope Dave and his followers continue to work like it is a toss up. I sure don't want to go back to someone like the slippery Leach.

[IA_Seth]

2. Well that's good to hear..

He is very well known around these parts, the Teahan funeral home certainly helps. Being in such a position to do nice things for grieving families probably is a strength for him as well. I know KCRG has him on whenever there is a natural disaster (and 9/11), so I was afraid he'd be well known everywhere.

But I am glad he isn't..

[pstans]

5. It is a little ironic that the Republicans are getting a mortician to run for Congress

considering their party is pretty much dead.

[bazoona]

7. If I am back around.....

you can count on me to do everything I can to support Dave.

I was involved in law enforcement for a lot of years around there and even attended some of the FEMA training in the state and can't say I have ever heard this guys (Teahan) name. As far as the optometrist...I just can't SEE him winning.:+

[9119495]

3. This is a bit scary. He'd no doubt be a moderate...

but I think without Leach running, the district will be as blue as it should be. If Dave beats this guy, he should be safe for a while.

[Blappy]

4. Thanks for the heads up, Seth

Dave worked really hard to get out, meet and get backing from district 2 folks. I really don't see where there would be a chance in hell of blue eastern iowa voting in a repuke rep of any stripe. Look at Leach, he was considered moderate and reasonable, and went after Bill Clinton like a bulldog. When the constitution is / was at stake under GWB, he supported party over nation. I think that is the key bottom line with the republick party.

We'll see if this bozo is serious about trying to jockey our guy Loebsack. The only vulnerability I can see with Dave is in the primary in district 2, and the chances of that are scant

[Vet31203]

6. seems like he's a non starter...

Has he decided for sure?

William J Meyers for House 2008