By PETER HUSSMANN
When 18 Jasper County Democrats meet later this month, they alone will have the power to select whose name will appear on the November ballot for the opportunity to be elected to the Iowa House District 41 seat left vacant due to the death of long-time office holder Paul Bell.
State Democratic party leaders are expected to call for the meeting of the Jasper County party precinct committee members the week of July 19 to fill the ballot vacancy existing due to Bell's death last month. The committee members were selected at the off-year caucus held earlier this year, a sparsely attended event that leaves several precincts within the district without a delegate to the decision-making process.
While one might suspect that the delegates would have an equal say in filling the ballot vacancy, such is not the case. Party rules allow for a weighted voting strength system. When the state party chair reconvenes the Jasper County precinct committee members, their vote will be "proportionate to the vote cast for the party's candidate for the office in question in the respective precincts at the last general election for that office."
Following is a list of the precinct delegates and their weighted voting strength. When two people were selected within a precinct at the caucus, they split the weighted vote.
Buena Vista/Elk Creek - Jon Davis - 267
Hickory Grove - Dennis Stevenson, Kindra Stevenson - 821
Independence/Malaka - John Parsons, Rick Tiedje - 633
Lynn Grove/Richland - Dennis Black, Deb Johnson - 326
Newton/Sherman - Dennis Parrott, Brian Sims - 769
Newton 1-2 - Jeanne Bridenstine, Dave Pitz - 530
Newton 2-2 - Judie Ogier, Cinday Pollard - 543
Newton 3-1 - Mike Jacobsen, Bill Guthrie - 787
Newton 3-2 - Dan Ingle - 593
Newton 4-1 - Dan Kelley - 836
Palo Alto - Max Worthington - 340
Four precincts within House District 41 have no representation on the central committee: Clear Creek/Poweshiek, Newton 1-1, Newton 2-1 and Newton 4-2. The remaining precincts within the county are not in House District 41, generally the Monroe, Colfax and Prairie City areas.
Such a process sets the stage for some serious arm twisting by the candidates seeking to be placed on the ballot. Dan Kelley, the Jasper County Democratic party chair, who is actively seeking the seat, controls more than three times the votes of Jon Davis, 836 versus 267. Another individual who I'm told is all in is Tracy Doonen. And there's a third, whom I've told I wouldn't name until he or she has had a chance to test the waters. Others may pop up.
How all this plays out is anybody's guess at present. But be certain the delegates are hearing from the candidates and talking amongst themselves, too. And state party leaders are involved as they want a strong candidate who will be able to continue to hold the seat since the District has been in Democratic hands for as long as most can remember. (And don't forget about reapportionment early next legislative session.)
It will also be interesting to see how the state party decides to run the meeting. Are they going to allow for secret ballots, where verbal commitments can easily be broken? Or will they require an open vote, which could pose the risk of party disunity? And will the delegates be allowed to split their votes?
Finally, peeking from behind are state and local Republican Party officials. If there's a glint of damage in the Democratic armor they may propose a strike.
Backroom politics at its best.
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