Lt. Gov. Gregg headlines Republican fundraiser at Bridgehouse Coffee

Instead of shooting at clay pigeons Saturday morning, local Republicans took shots at their opponents in the Democratic party. With the election looming in less than two months away, top party operatives were focused on making their final push towards voters. On Saturday morning, Republican candidates, supporters and friends gathered at Bridgehouse Coffee, on the west side of Newton’s square.

With Zach Nunn out of the country on military duty, Jasper County Republican Party Chair Thad Nearmyer decided to postpone the group’s annual trap shoot fundraiser, originally scheduled for Saturday.

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, the event’s guest of honor, also had to bow out, sending Lt. Gov. Adam Gregg in her place. Gregg worked to get the crowd fired up, giving listeners an inside look at some of the challenges Reynolds’ administration has faced since she took office.

Despite criticism that’s been levied at Reynolds, Gregg said he’s confident the state is on the right track, even in the midst of negative coverage over Reynolds’ handling of several high profile issues, including former Gov. Terry Branstad’s decision to privatize Iowa’s Medicaid system, a move designed to save money.

Critics say the plan has offered little in the way of savings. Clinics across the state claim they have not been paid for the treatment they have provided, while patients claim they are struggling to access basic services. Despite complaints, Gregg insisted Reynolds was doing her best to turn the struggling program around.

“I think she’s doing a great job,” Gregg said. “She stood before the people of Iowa during the Condition of the State address and said we need to do better.”

Citing the appointment of Jerry Foxhoven as Director of the Iowa Department of Human Services and Mike Randol’s appointment as the state’s top Medicaid Director, Gregg said Reynolds is committed to making changes. With more than 60,000 open positions across the state of Iowa, Gregg said the goal is to help Iowans gain the skills they need to fill those positions and continue a push to keep skilled Iowans from leaving the state.

“When you’ve got a 2.6 percent unemployment you’ve got between 40,000-45,000 Iowans looking for jobs,” Gregg said. “Even if you put all of them to work there are still jobs available in our state. We want to make sure we’re training Iowans to give them the skills to fill those jobs.”

Gregg said Iowa’s economy continues to remain robust, although he said the Reynolds administration would remain focused on it’s Future Ready Iowa initiative. Although wages have largely remained stagnant despite low unemployment in Iowa, Gregg said he believes a tight job market for employers will continue to encourage local employers to raise wages across the state.

“We’re starting to see wages on the rise, and just look around at the positions that are available,” Gregg said. “There are positions available in every corner of the state, at every skill level. I drove by a McDonald’s the other day and they’re starting at $11 an hour with a $250 signing bonus.”

Gregg was not the only speaker to invoke dollars and cents Saturday morning, with Jon Dunwell, a top fundraiser for the Jasper County Republican Party, comparing donors to investors during his speech Saturday morning.

“The reality is, any investor wants to know, what’s my return on investment,” Dunwell said. “What we want to do is give you a tremendous opportunity.”

On Saturday, Dunwell praised the work of volunteers like Rhonda Paine, who have been knocking on doors across Jasper County. Paine, a former Jasper County Board of Supervisors candidate, has stayed active in the local Republican party, knocking on doors and urging residents to get out and vote. As he spoke, Dunwell pointed to a stack of signs sitting by the front door of the coffee shop, telling the audience, “Every single one of those signs should be gone,” Dunwell said.

“We need to get the word out,” he told the crowd. “We’re going to invade even more of (the Democrats) space.”

Republicans are hoping for more than just a return on their investment in Jasper County this fall. They’re hoping to take Iowa Senate District 15 back from the Democrats. With popular incumbent Chaz Allen out, local Republicans are pushing to get the vote out, but time may be running out. On Saturday, Gregg rallied the assembled party members.

“You’ve gotta go out and you gotta earn it,” Gregg said. “The governor and I, we’re going to be out there every day for the next 52 days, we’re going to earn it.”

Contact David Dolmage at 641-792-3121 ext. 6532 or ddolmage@newtondailynews.com