Yepsen: Iowa Democrats don't all follow Vilack's Values Fund

[Debi]

Three of the Democrats trying to succeed the governor — especially state Rep. Ed Fallon — are criticizing the fund, which is Iowa's premier economic-development effort. Secretary of State Chet Culver and Secretary of Agriculture Patty Judge aren't as critical as Fallon, but they do want to make some big change

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The matter came to a head over the weekend at a forum sponsored by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) in Sioux City. The union is close to Vilsack and supported creation of the fund. The Sioux City scene is best described in an e-mail from one of the campaign staffers, who asked not to be identified:

"Shortly before the forum actually began, all of the candidates, and a couple of their staff, were herded into a separate room with the AFSCME rep who was moderating. She then proceeds to tell all of the candidates, 'As you all know, our political director, Marcia Nichols, sits on Governor Vilsack's Iowa Values Fund board. She has heard and noticed the criticisms many of you have been making of the Fund at our forums, and we want you to know she and AFSCME are taking them personally. That's why we're going to ask you all to tone it down in this forum and refrain from making these kinds of attacks on the Values Fund.' "

"You can, of course, imagine the surprise on the faces of Patty/Chet/Fallon as Blouin stands to the side. Ed, to his credit, immediately says, 'Well, with all due respect to Marcia and AFSCME, I'm going to continue to say what needs to be said,' to which the AFSCME rep replies, 'Well, just know that it's being taken personally,' and the candidates then march out to the forum."

In response, Nichols told me in an interview Monday, the purpose of the admonition wasn't to mute criticism of the fund but to get the candidates to focus on the issues of concern to union members. She said the candidates were sent a questionnaire with 26 questions, none of which involved the Values Fund, and the group simply wanted candidates to address those.


http://desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051025/OPINION01/510250371/1036

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Read the entire article, will give you some insight on how involved Vilsack is in this race.

[Hungy]

1. McFallon

The only way that Fallon can be a contender is if he keeps preaching the good - and bad - news. I fully support Fallon and his maverick approach... I just hope he's got the political knowhow to really pull something off here.

[Debi]

2. If Fallon becomes our Governor I see a revolution in the makings

Not only in the corporate giveaways we've seen under Vilsack, but in campaign finance (at least statewide). More power to him. I only hope (as a Culver supporter) that whoever makes it will work with the other candidates to effect change.