The Iowa Speedway will be the site of some large events in 2015 — but the Iowa Straw Poll will not be among those.
The Newton raceway was among four finalist sites for the Republican Party of Iowa’s 2015 Straw Poll event, but the state’s party leadership announced Thursday that Boone has been chosen, through a news release.
The event will take place Aug. 8 on the Central Iowa Expo grounds. The Expo, the Speedway, Drake University and Iowa State Center in Ames were among finalist sites.
Jasper County Republican Chairman Marshall Critchfield said Thursday in an email that he’s disappointed Newton didn’t get the event, but he is confident in the committee decision to go with Boone.
“The committee had to consider several factors in selecting a venue,” Critchfield said. “Most of us were unaware of the costs associated with the different locations, and I assume Boone made the most sense from a financial perspective. I will continue to work hard to protect our first-in-the-nation status, and that will certainly include pitching Newton for future events.”
Last week, Critchfield told the Newton Daily News the Speedway “has a proven record of hosting large and exciting events” and that Newton “epitomizes the Iowa lifestyle: small enough to know everyone, yet close enough to Des Moines to appeal to big-city tastes.”
Although results are not necessarily indicative of who will host the 2016 Iowa Caucus or earn the presidential nomination, the Straw Poll brings international attention to the state and is a testing ground for the candidates. The news release states decision was made Thursday morning during a conference-call meeting of the State Central Committee.
The final vote was unanimous, with voting members including Steve Scheffler, Chelle Adkins, David Chung, Ron Herrig, Loras Schulte, Bob Anderson, Trudy Caviness, Judy Davidson, Jarad Klein, Brenna Bird, Ryan Frederick, Bill Gustoff, Sherill Whisenand, Gabe Haugland, Jamie Johnson, Gary Nystrom, and Craig Williams.
In the release, Iowa GOP Chairman Jeff Kaufmann said Central Iowa Expo will help the event showcase Iowa’s agricultural heritage, and allow ticket prices to be kept affordable.
The release also includes a quote from Gov. Terry Branstad.
“As a former resident of Boone, I couldn’t be happier with the Central Committee’s selection,” Branstad said. “Making this event more accessible to every Iowan is an important step in keeping the straw poll a must-attend date on the presidential election calendar. Boone is a wonderful town and will make a fantastic host for the 2015 Straw Poll.”
Past winners of the Iowa straw poll include George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush, and Mitt Romney. Remaining details of the event will be announced in the coming weeks and months, the release states.
Critchfield said the way both parties and independents push for Jasper County to be the site of major state events is encouraging.
“One of the most endearing takeaways from having Newton in the final running for the Straw Poll was the outpouring of local support I witnessed from our residents,” Critchfield said. “When I saw Democratic activists pushing for the Speedway to hold a Republican event, I knew I lived in the right town.”
Contact Jason W. Brooks at
641-792-3121 ext. 6532
or jbrooks@newtondailynews.com