DES MOINES – A.J. Spiker won re-election as chairman of the Republican Party today.
Spiker, a realtor from Ames, was re-elected by a vote of 13-5 board votes from the State Central Committee over Bill Schickel of Mason City, the party’s co-chairman. Schickel runs a radio station in Mason City.
One of Schickel’s campaign promises was “To fight for strong Republican victories in elections on all levels across Iowa,” but some had questioned how effective of a leader Schickel would be as he had failed to support a lone, local Republican, Chris Watts, in his run for Cerro Gordo county supervisor this past election cycle. Watts lost the election to Democrat Phil Dougherty.
The board also elected David Fischer as Co-Chairman of the Republican Party of Iowa. Fischer received 11 of the 18 votes from the State Central Committee.
John Kabitzke was elected treasurer, unopposed and Mark Doland was elected secretary, unopposed.
Speculation as to what Schickel’s next move will be is now the talk in Mason City. Some are saying he may take a run at mayor, a seat that will be up for grabs in the coming November city elections.