Rants wants to end election of ag secretary

[IA_Seth]

http://www.gazetteonline.com/2005/08/23/Home/News/agsecretary.htm

Key lawmakers are crafting legislation that would make the state Agriculture Secretary an appointed position, ending its status as an independent elected official, House Speaker Chris Rants said Tuesday
...
I'm not quite sure what the speaker has against people voting," Vilsack said in a telephone interview. "I think agriculture has been such an integral part of the Iowa experience that people ought to have an independent voice in that office speaking for all of us."

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This Rants fella hates our freedoms!

In all reality, I would say most of the average city-folk aren't voting with any sort of knowledge about the position, so I can see a little of where he is coming from, but I think it calls for more education instead of less voting.

[colbushwhacker_2000]

1. Rants is a damn NAZI

I live in Sioux City and believe me Rants is nothing more than a facist rabid reich winger......words cannot describe my disgust for this idiot !

[IA_Seth]

2. Hallelujah! n/t

[Debi]

3. Is it because a well known Democrat is running for the spot and the repubs

don't like their chances?


Vilsack aide to weigh run for ag secretary

Dusky Terry, a key adviser to the governor, is stepping down to explore a likely bid for Iowa agriculture secretary.

"Iowa is positioned to be a leader in creating economic opportunity. We have the richest soil and most productive farmers in the world. I want to make sure that anyone who wants to have a future in agriculture and a future in Iowa has that opportunity right here in Iowa," said Terry, 30, a Democrat who lives near Greenfield.

He has never run for office but has worked for Gov. Tom Vilsack since the beginning of Vilsack's governorship, dealing with policy issues ranging from agriculture to the economy.

Terry was named policy director in 2002. His resignation is effective Sept. 1.

He plans sometime next month to make an official decision on whether to run.

http://desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050819/NEWS09/508190390/1001/archive


I can't find the article, but Mike Leonard from Souix City announced his bid some time ago for the republicans, it didn't create much buzz when he announced his run for the position.

[IA_Seth]

4. I thought I recalled something like that....

When I read the article the first time I came across this...


"There's no incumbent, you're not taking it away from somebody," Rants told The Associated Press. "There are no current officeholders of other positions who are talking about running for it, so you're not jabbing anybody in that way."

Which triggered me to recall something about a Vilsack aid wanting to run...go figure - a Republican with a smokescreen.

[Debi]

5. Dusky's not a lark either

He has been with Vilsack from the beginning working for his campaign during the 1998 primary.

And he's from a Democratic Activist family (read up on Dixon Terry)

Dusky has what it takes to be the Sec. of Ag. for this state.

republicans should be scared.

[Broke Dad]

6. Rants is also thinking about Gov Nussle

During Branstad we had a Dem Sec of Ag - Dale Cochrane. He did a good job. Its interesting that when we had a Dem Gov and Dem Sec of Ag, we have had less cooperation than with Branstad and Cochrane. Vilsack and Judge clashed in the State Senate and constantly the last 7 years.

Dusky is a good guy, but he is not his Dad. It will be interesting to see how he does on the stump.

Rants is just making waves. It would ten years of concerted effort to get this passed. Rants doesn't have the patience. Besides too many hard core Republicans are wealthy land owners who see the Sec of Ag as their "boy" or in the case of Judge their "girl." They are not going to stand for Rants to demote the Sec of Ag to bureaucrat.

[Debi]

7. I agree that Nussle would rather appoint someone who would

do his bidding rather than go against his wishes (could you imagine Nussle and Terry going at it?)

And the Vilsack/Judge relationship proves that any Governor would rather have a neutered dog in that seat than a person who has their own opinion and constiuency....although I don't particularly know if Democrats are exactly Judge's constituency.

Dusky has done front office work for Vilsack for the last three years, he's not a kid who's filing papers or calling to organize press confreneces..He's the Policy Director for the Governor's Office. And whether or not he's his father, I think he's had a good Democratic upbringing and continued to show his devotion to the Democrat Party. He deserves our support.

[ISUGRADIA]

8. I am sure this has nothing to do with the fact that Democrats

have won this office 6 out the last 6 times it's been on the ballot.

[IA_Seth]

9. Lol, interesting point! Good research! n/t