“I am announcing my resignation because of personal health reasons. I am resigning so that I can focus on my family and my health. Believe me when I say that I would be here fighting to elect more Democrats every day if I could.

“I am proud of the work I have been able to do as chairman and we’ve had a lot of successes. Our 2010 election strategy is set and I am confident that the Party is in a strong position to implement that plan”

Under Michael Kiernan’s chairmanship, the Iowa Democratic Party has maintained our 100,000 voter registration advantage over the Republican Party of Iowa.

Since 2008, Iowa Democrats have won all three special elections in Iowa. House District 30 was even called a ‘bellwether’ for this election cycle by top Republicans and it will be a ‘bellwether’ that shows Iowa Democrats will win again in November.

The Iowa Democratic Party has successfully outraised the Republican Party of Iowa for the past year and a half. In 2009, Iowa Democrats raised $1 million more than Iowa Republicans, which will go towards our coordinated campaign efforts to make sure we send Roxanne Conlin to represent us in the Senate and that Governor Chet Culver is re-elected.

Kiernan also serves on the Democratic National Committee’s Rules and Bylaws committee where he works to ensure Iowa’s caucuses will remain First-in-the-Nation.

Until a new chair is formally elected, Vice-Chair Sue Dvorsky will act as chair.

BACKGROUND

Kiernan, 35, was elected Chairman of the Iowa Democratic Party in February of 2009. Chairman Kiernan ran Governor Chet Culver’s campaign for Secretary of State before serving two successful terms as an At-Large Councilman in Des Moines. He was born and raised in Madison County, Iowa.

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Several times a year all the committees from each district are invited to get an update from their chair on the status of the party and how the resources they help gather are being used. Today the SCC met at IDP headquarters in Des Moines and were joined by a very special guest: US Senator Tom Harkin.

Here are some pictures of the event:

Senator Harkin talked about the status of health insurance reform and the Employee Free Choice Act in the US Senate, and gave the SCC members words of encouragement for the upcoming election year. He told a story about a World War II leader telling officers that they weren’t allowed to have low morale and it was their job to inspire their troops.

The 2010 elections will be hard, no doubt, but Democrats are ready to do what’s hard.

State Democrats counter Branstad stop here Thursday
From the WCF Courier

Kiernan launches “Terry Vs. Terry” tour
From the Des Moines Register

DES MOINES, IA – Candidate Terry Branstad says he wants Iowa’s tax climate to be more family friendly and business friendly. Wait until he meets his main opponent on the issue – Taxin’ Terry Branstad.

“Branstad’s record of raising the sales tax, gas tax and business taxes is not a record that Iowa fiscal conservatives including those who are active in the Republican Party are prepared to endorse,” Iowa Democratic Party Chairman Michael Kiernan said Tuesday.

No Governor in the last 40 years has made steeper tax increases on Iowans than Taxin’ Terry, who served four terms as Governor beginning in the early 1980s. The obvious response would be the Branstads are actually the same person. But candidate Branstad’s future depends on his ability to convince an increasingly restless GOP primary electorate that he is not the same man who repeatedly hiked taxes on hardworking Iowans to fund his mismanagement of the state budget.

This week, Kiernan launched a three-day tour to remind Iowans of the Branstad record. “It all begins with the multiple tax increases,” Kiernan said. “Iowa has a Governor now in Chet Culver who’s made tough choices, acted swiftly and decisively in meeting our challenges and led Iowa through a deep recession and the worst Iowa natural disaster ever – all without raising taxes.”

Kiernan said the Branstad tax record is among the most important issues in the 2010 campaign.
Here are just a few of the facts you can find at TerryLovesTaxes.com:

• Branstad raised the sales tax – twice! In his first year in office, Branstad raised the sales tax by 25%.[1] It would not be the last time. He went back to the tax well over and over, increasing the sales tax 67%[2] as Governor.
• Branstad raised the gas tax on Iowa drivers. Branstad wasn’t afraid to add to the pain at the pump for Iowans. During his tenure, he raised the gasoline tax by a total of five cents per gallon.[3]

TerryLovesTaxes.com links to a clearing house of information on the Governor’s race. The site will have new content posted on a regular basis with breaking news and important updates.

Sources:
[1] — http://www.iowa.gov/tax/taxlaw/TaxHistory.html#Sales
[2] — http://www.iowa.gov/tax/taxlaw/TaxHistory.html#Sales
[3] — http://www.iowa.gov/tax/taxlaw/TaxHistory.html#Motor

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“Tonight I am honored to represent the Iowa Democratic Party and a new generation of Democrats.

“All across this state and nation people have put their faith in Democrats, in ways we have not seen in at least 45 years.

“We are lead by our outstanding President Barack Obama who launched his successful bid for the White House right here in Iowa.  The majority of Iowa’s delegation in Congress is made up of Democrats, led by our Senator Tom Harkin, and our great Representatives Boswell, Braley and Loebsack.

“At the statehouse Governor Culver and Lt. Governor Judge lead the State shoulder to shoulder with Senator Gronstal, Speaker Murphy and our Democratic majorities in both houses. And let’s not forget we have a friend who now serves in the Cabinet – Iowa’s own Secretary of Agriculture…Tom Vilsack.  Thank you Christie for being here tonight!

“But it doesn’t stop there for us.  In courthouses and city hall chambers throughout Iowa, Democrats such as Mayor Ed Malloy of Fairfield, and Supervisors like Linda Langston in Linn County are also leading the way and getting the job done on behalf of their communities, every single day.

“As we enjoy our success tonight, many in this room are able to remember the last time our party was the dominant political force in the state.

“You have taught me and my generation the tremendous excitement that comes with the knowledge that we as a party can renew our strength, and carry the trust and faith of our people into the work of governing, and governing well.

“Perhaps even more exciting, though, is the reality that for many in this room, including me, these last two election years have had such an explosion of support for Democrats up and down the ballot.

“As all of you know these things don’t happen by accident.   And you can look at all the blue and red maps you want, and still not see the whole story.  Behind every election victory is a long march . . . of phone calls made, doors knocked, lit mailed and the hope of a better future acted out in living rooms all over Iowa.

“What they may not see is the grassroots and the backbone of our party.  Those that dedicate their time as state central committee members and county party chairs giving countless hours of work.  One of those is my mother, Joan, whose dedication is still an example to me. To them I say thank you.

“What they may not see looking at that blue and red map is that person in a green AFSCME t-shirt, a blue Teamsters jacket, or wearing SEIU purple! Those in organized labor who have fought with us side by side and share our Democratic beliefs.  And to that end, each and every one of us here tonight owes you a great debt of gratitude.  Thank you!

“Tonight is an opportunity to celebrate our past victories, and also to begin the work of preparing to win in 2010.

“Remember, everything you need to know about elections you learned in Driver’s Ed:  ‘When you want to go backwards, put it in ‘R,’” and when you want to go forward, put it in ‘D’!!’

“Thanks again for your coming tonight.  We have an exciting evening planned for you. So let’s get right into it.”

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“Comments like Branstad’s have no place in Iowa, no matter what party you’re affiliated with. I condemn both the content and the language he used in the strongest possible terms.”

Kiernan was reacting to the disclosure of an audio recording of an invitation-only meeting Branstad held with evangelical leaders on Oct. 28 to try and win their support for his bid for the Republican nomination for Governor. Speaking about budget cuts, Branstad said:

“We went from like 64 agencies to 25 agencies. The one we weren’t able to get done was the Commission for the Blind, because the Legislature just couldn’t take the heat from the tap tap tap of the white canes.”

The quote, as well as the full audio from the meeting, can be found here. The meeting is the same one at which Branstad admitted he had no plan to fix the state budget.

The unscripted Branstad is very revealing, and his comments early in the race are very important for Iowans to pay attention to, Kiernan said Wednesday.

“For most candidates for public office, making a few mistakes early on — when you’re getting used to being on the stump — wouldn’t be surprising,” Kiernan said. “But this is a man who spent the better part of his career in the public eye. He knows exactly what he is saying and how it will be interpreted.”

Kiernan called for Iowans to hold Branstad accountable for what the IowaKnowsBetter website calls “appalling” statements by the former Governor.

In their ongoing civic mission to provide opportunities to make its members more informed citizens and to increase their participation in the political process they are hosting an event this Thursday at the Des Moines Social Club featuring Iowa Democratic Party Chair Michael Kiernan and Republican Party of Iowa Chair Matt Strawn.

Here are the details:

• Who: IDP Chair Michael Kiernan and YOU!
• What: A night of political discussion with the chairmen of both parties.
• Where: The Des Moines Social Club, 1400 Locust Ave. Des Moines.
• When: Thursday, October 8, 5:30pm
• Why: Support your party and be better informed about the issues that affect you every day.

Here is the YPC’s flyer for the event.

Hope to see you there!