2008 Woodie Awards
Dems eye Latham
Christopher Patton - The Daily Iowan
Issue date: 2/19/08 Section: Metro
Republican Rep. Tom Latham has represented Iowa's 4th District in the U.S. House since 1995, but now, at least two Democrats - and perhaps four - are competing to take his place.
At a Mason City event on Feb. 15, Kurt Meyer, one of Latham's challengers, officially announced his candidacy.
Emily Caponetti, Meyer's communications director, said she thinks the campaign is getting off to a good start.
"We'll see where we are in mid-March after the filing date, when we know for sure who our competition for the nomination is," she said. "One thing I can tell you is that we're already very excited, and [Meyer] is campaigning full-time."
Meyer has spent the last 27 years helping nonprofit organizations with strategic planning, community relations, board development, and fundraising, according to a press release. He graduated from Luther College with a degree in history and political science.
"There is a sense of resolve and resurgence among our party that hasn't occurred before in my lifetime," he said in the release. "And those of us gathered here now have an exceptional and unprecedented opportunity to change the direction in which our country is headed."
William Meyers is another Democrat seeking to get a shot at unseating Latham.
The Humboldt native's campaign website describes him as an average American citizen who would work to bring common sense to Washington. Meyers is a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps.
The 4th District consists of 28 counties located throughout northern and central regions of the state.
Tim Hagle, a UI associate professor of political science, said challenging an incumbent such as Latham is generally an uphill battle, but he noted that this election may be an exception.
"Going into 2008, it does seem that this election is going to be in the Democrats' favor," he said. "Given the general excitement in the Democratic Party, it should be easy for them to recruit top candidates."
Though approximately twice as many Democrats than Republicans participated in Iowa's 2008 caucuses, Hagle said that doesn't mean the general election will be equally lopsided.
"The plain fact, though, is that the Democrats are more excited, so you're going to get a higher turnout for them," he said.
In addition to Meyer and Meyers, Becky Greenwald, a Iowa Democratic Party Central Committee member from Perry, and Kevin Miskell, the vice president of the Iowa Farmers Union, have also indicated interest in running for the Democratic spot in the 4th District.
E-mail DI reporter Christopher Patton at:
chris-patton@uiowa.edu
At a Mason City event on Feb. 15, Kurt Meyer, one of Latham's challengers, officially announced his candidacy.
Emily Caponetti, Meyer's communications director, said she thinks the campaign is getting off to a good start.
"We'll see where we are in mid-March after the filing date, when we know for sure who our competition for the nomination is," she said. "One thing I can tell you is that we're already very excited, and [Meyer] is campaigning full-time."
Meyer has spent the last 27 years helping nonprofit organizations with strategic planning, community relations, board development, and fundraising, according to a press release. He graduated from Luther College with a degree in history and political science.
"There is a sense of resolve and resurgence among our party that hasn't occurred before in my lifetime," he said in the release. "And those of us gathered here now have an exceptional and unprecedented opportunity to change the direction in which our country is headed."
William Meyers is another Democrat seeking to get a shot at unseating Latham.
The Humboldt native's campaign website describes him as an average American citizen who would work to bring common sense to Washington. Meyers is a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps.
The 4th District consists of 28 counties located throughout northern and central regions of the state.
Tim Hagle, a UI associate professor of political science, said challenging an incumbent such as Latham is generally an uphill battle, but he noted that this election may be an exception.
"Going into 2008, it does seem that this election is going to be in the Democrats' favor," he said. "Given the general excitement in the Democratic Party, it should be easy for them to recruit top candidates."
Though approximately twice as many Democrats than Republicans participated in Iowa's 2008 caucuses, Hagle said that doesn't mean the general election will be equally lopsided.
"The plain fact, though, is that the Democrats are more excited, so you're going to get a higher turnout for them," he said.
In addition to Meyer and Meyers, Becky Greenwald, a Iowa Democratic Party Central Committee member from Perry, and Kevin Miskell, the vice president of the Iowa Farmers Union, have also indicated interest in running for the Democratic spot in the 4th District.
E-mail DI reporter Christopher Patton at:
chris-patton@uiowa.edu
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