Plymouth County Democrats Elect Officers
(Le Mars) — Plymouth County Democratic Party recently held their odd year caucus and elected their county officers. Jon Neunaber of rural Akron was re-elected as county party chair, Amy Oetken of Le Mars was selected as vice chair, Kay Luckett of Le Mars will serve as the secretary, Dennis Wolf of rural Le Mars was elected as the treasurer, while Mark Sturgeon of Le Mars will serve as the interim treasurer, and Phyllis Monore of Le Mars will be the voter access network coordinator.
King Says He Will Decide Soon For Senate Race
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa Republican Steve King says he is nearing a decision on whether to seek the U.S. Senate seat held by retiring Democrat Tom Harkin, but does not know today whether he
will run.
Appearing on Iowa Public Television’s “Iowa Press,” the six-term U.S. House member from Kiron said: “I need to get a decision made fairly quickly.”
King says he is reviewing polling data he says will help him decide. The outspoken western Iowa conservative has been urged by Republicans, including Gov. Terry Branstad, to forgo a 2014 bid,
and run in 2016, in the event six-term Republican Sen. Charles Grassley retires.
Democratic Congressman Bruce Braley of Waterloo is his party’s only candidate for Senate. Harkin, first elected in 1984, said in January he would not seek a sixth term.
Branstad Launches Website For Open Auditor’s Position
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Gov. Terry Branstad has launched a website to help in his search for a new state auditor.
The site was announced Friday. Those interested in the job can submit resumes and others can offer recommendations.
State Auditor David Vaudt announced Thursday he is resigning his elected position to become chairman of a national nonprofit accounting board. Under state law, Branstad will appoint a replacement to serve until Vaudt’s term expires. An election for a new state auditor will be held in November 2014.
On the website, Branstad says he wants a replacement that will follow budgeting principles like avoiding using one-time funds for ongoing expenses and making sure revenue and expenses match up in the fiscal year.
Spring Is Near – Fundraiser Car Falls Through Ice
OKOBOJI, Iowa (AP) – Another sign of spring: The fundraising car has fallen through the ice at West Okoboji Lake in northwest Iowa.
The Spirit Lake Sunrise Kiwanis Club and American Red Cross sell tickets as a fundraiser each year. Buyers record their best guesses for when a car placed on ice in Smith Bay will fall through. The
car engine and all fluids are removed from the car so it won’t pollute the lake.
Last year it plunged by mid-March. This year the plunge took place either late Wednesday or early Thursday morning.
A search and rescue team and a towing company will recover the car on Saturday. A clock rigged to record the plunge will be checked. The ticket buyer with the closest guess of the plunge time
will win $1,000.
Bedbug Lawsuit
MOUNT PLEASANT, Iowa (AP) – Two people have filed a lawsuit on behalf of more than 50 residents and former residents of a Mount Pleasant apartment complex, saying they’ve dealt with
health-related problems because of a long-running bedbug infestation.
The lawsuit filed last month claims the owners of Maple Leaf Apartments failed to eliminate the infestation despite numerous requests from tenants.
The lawsuit says tenants noticed the bedbugs in 2012, and an exterminator’s work did not solve the problems.
The newspaper reports representatives of the federally subsidized complex and its management company, National Management Corp., could not be reached for comment.
Attorneys for the plaintiffs plan to request a class-action status for the lawsuit.
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