RPI Chairman Candidate — Matt Strawn

In a post on the chairman race last week, I suggested that Matt Strawn was something of a wild card in the race. He is the owner of the Iowa Barnstormers and has an impressive political resume. He was raised in Iowa but has only recently returned to the state. Most activists around the state do not know him.

Since that time, his stock has risen considerably — he may even be the frontrunner in the race. It started with his campaign video on YouTube. Since then, he has another video and a blog. Strawn is also on Twitter and Facebook. He has also started a Pizza and Politics tour to meet with activists in 10 communities all across the state.

Clearly, Matt understands technology. Several bloggers and commentators have pointed out our party's failure to use technology in the 2008 elections. I should probably state by way of disclaimer that I am a professional tech guy. I make my living working with technology and use a variety of technology every day. Having said that — we did not lose the election because of our failure to use technology. But I agree that one of the ares in which we need to improve is the use of technology.

Strawn has shown that he is willing to pull out all the stops in this race. His tour to connect with activists in all corners of the state is a brilliant move, it answers one of the key criticisms of him — that he is not well known outside of Des Moines. Strawn, is clearly playing to win.

While I still think the race is not yet decided, Strawn has to be one of the top contenders.

Comments

[Tim]

Just this morning I read that the country of Estonia has approved the use of "Cell Phones" for voting in their 2011 parliamentary election.
Last week I read that the Democrats own version of Darth Vader, (aka George Soros) has pledged up to another billion dollars in an effort to seat 50 democrat election officials in our country via the Secretary of States offices.

The implications of these developments, left unchecked, could be devastating to our party.

We don't have 4 years, much less 2 years. We have to start making dramatic progress in the next 12 months if we're going to start reclaiming lost seats in our county, state, nation.

As for Matt, I agree with you Dave. He appears to be the only candidate taking ACTION and grapsing the big picture. Since he and Jeff Lamberti are partners in business, does an RPI chair Strawn have a silent partner in this enterprise?

I think every candidate is intelligent enough to show us a reasonably solid plan. The difference in this next term is the ability of our new chair to actually perform to the plan and produce results.

[Yoda]

Technology is good, but we already have you on the SCC Dave.

I want substance, I want a proven winner at all levels of elective office in Iowa. I want someone with an in depth understanding of Iowa election laws and a plan on how to stop the bleeding via warped county auditor interpretations of said laws.

I want someone who doesnt need the job, but rather will lead us because they want to help turn around the state GOP. The candidate list is full of people who want to use this post as a springboard for elective office and they are mistaken to think that it works.

I want someone who has been a county chairman. I want someone who has raised money at the local, legislative and statewide levels SUCCESSFULLY. I want someone who has been regonized by their peers to lead them (Pate being elected President of the Iowa League of Cities for instance). I want someone who has been to Jewel (thats for G$). I want someone who is good on camera and can speak for us on Iowa Press. I want someone who can remeber Eastern Iowa. I want someone who has won in Eastern Iowa multiple times. I want someone who has won statewide office. I want someone who understands what its like to run for city office and have no infrastructural help from the party and still win... Then take that knowledge and make sure local candidates get partisan support in the future so that we have a bench of candidates like the dems do. I want a candidate who can rebuild the shattered base between the conservatives and the moderates and doesnt want to kick either out of the party. I want a candidate that knows Dave Chung can secretly speak French. I want a candidate that personally worked at the grassroots of our party for decades. I want the most well rounded and experienced candidate we can find.

And we have found him in Paul Pate.

[Matt in Lee]

Dave - Some feedback on Strawn, met with him in Burlington last nite. I think he's a contender. Has a good knowledge base and grasp of what needs to be done, but doesn't think he has all the answers either. He seems to have the focus and desire for the job and good gravitas.

We bs'd about an hour or so about various topics and we gave him alot of feedback, which he seemed to either be aware of already or engaged us further on our experiences. He also definitely has the ability to brainstorm and pioneer in areas where maybe the roadmap isn't well defined.

Overall he seems to have a good foundation. I've read his resume and it looks good, he seems to know the players in the state, and his involvement in the Barnstormers has given him the experience to know how to manage a large organization. He seemed to have an idea of the scope and size of things. Given all that I think he meets the criteria to be worth considering. Him, Carroll and Pate seem to be the top three at the moment to me.

Side question: what happens if no one receives a majority vote? Is there a runoff or some other kind of arrangement?

[Yoda]

Come on Dave, make a new post or you are going to be officially renamed TRC (The Real Chung). :)

Hehehehe Yoda made a funny.

Matt is Lee, lets chat sometime. What is your contact info?

[Matt in Lee]

leecounty4rathje@gmail.com. Don't use that one anymore so I don't care if it gets spamed.