PRO Iowa 24, Progressive Rural Optimists, a PAC formed to develop a rural message, recruit candidates, and fundraise for candidates who will win, held a fundraiser Sunday afternoon at Sportsman Park near Dawson in Dallas County. Mary Weaver, leader of PRO Iowa 24, welcomed the guests, providing a brief history of the formation of PRO Iowa 24. Following a meal donated by the PRO Iowa board, participants listened to the candidates.
Cheri Scheib spoke on behalf of House District 47 candidate Joe Shelly from Perry. Shelly is currently finishing a contract supervisor role in a steamfitter/ welder assignment in Missouri. House District 47 includes Greene, Guthrie, and part of Dallas counties.
Penny Vossler, House District 48 candidate, is seeking the office to represent Boone County and western Story County. She expressed her concerns about women’s health care rights.
Margaret Liston, candidate to replace Jesse Green in Senate District 24, gave her introductory speech, focusing on the need to improve the economic conditions in rural Iowa.
Bruce Lear of Sioux City provided the keynote and inspiring message. Lear is an education activist retiring as a negotiator of the Iowa State Education Association. He spoke of concerns for the future of education in Iowa following the agreement by the Governor and the Legislature to provide funds to private schools. He also noted the negative impact of the end of collective bargaining for teachers on the supply of teachers in Iowa. According to Lear, the most important future-oriented issues in the 2024 election in Iowa are healthcare/reproductive rights for women, public education, and the forced sale of property/eminent domain.
Sen. Herman Quirmbach (SD 25) was present, along with Greene County board of supervisor candidate Tori Riley, and Boone County supervisor candidate Brian Reimers.
The beef and bratwurst burgers were donated by Moo Meat of Scranton, and sponsors of the event were identified on the program and thanked. Everyone present expressed pride that every state race from this region is being challenged.
