MASON CITY – Republicans in Des Moines have been making automated phone calls with live callers on the line to North Iowa registered Republicans and Independents, as part of an energized effort to take out State Senator Amanda Ragan.
Calls have been received by several north Iowans, mainly from Mason City, from GOP political operatives during the last couple of weeks, according to sources who told NIT that they’ve gotten such calls.
Ragan had no comment when asked about the auto-calls.
Ragan, who is up for re-election in 2014, is high on the list of Democrats considered by both parties to be vulnerable next year, when Gov. Terry Branstad is also expected to be on the ballot. Ragan, who runs Mason City’s Community Kitchen, was first elected
in 2002 in a special election. She has been twice re-elected, in 2006 and again in 2010.
Ragan, whose brother is Cerro Gordo county Assessor John Boedeker, is expected to run for a fourth term next year.
The motivation for this early activity appears to be the surprise defeat of former state Senator Merlin Bartz, who lost by less than one percent of the vote last fall to Mary Jo Wilhelm. Bartz now runs the Mason City district office of U.S. Congressman Steve King.
The callers ask those they call about hypothetical match-ups, featuring Ragan being op- posed by either Bill Schickel or Roger Bang.
This will be a new district for Ragan. Butler County and Franklin County are now in the district along with Clear Lake. Ragan follows the Democratic party’s line for her time in the legislature. Spending more money does not translate that she is an advocate for the poor and middle class. Spending more government money just keeps the poor poor and the middle class in the middle class. The best thing that can happen to the poor and middle class is get the government out of there lives. Then we will start to see some progress in this district. Mason City needs good jobs. Nothing in Ragan time as a State Senator has shown that she is interested in getting the state in a position that attracts those companies with good paying jobs to North Iowa. Following the party leaders and doing what Gronstal wants does not make Ragan a good Senator.
It is not just Bill Schickel and Roger Bang that are thinking about running against Ragan. The former US Marshal and Sheriff from Butler County, Tim Junker is interest in running.
Amanda Ragan is a liar and knows how to do nothing but spend, spend spend. She is not for the common people at all and you people who think so have ad the wool pulled over your eyes. The Community Kitchen she runs is a paid position for her. She does not volunteer her time like most of the people there. The sate of Iowa will be much better off without her spending our tax money on her liberal friends.
Amanda Ragan has the respect and support of many many local Republicans!!! She could beat Dill Pickle and Roger Bang without campaigning. She is one of the best legislators ever and I hope she runs for Governor sometime in the future.
If Pickle or Bang want to run for something– try Mayor again– it could not be worse than what we have now….
Amanda Ragan Rules!!!
I agree. Amanda is one classy lady and an excellent senator. She is looking out for the little Iowans. Not the rich or big corporations. We need more like her
Merlin Bartz disrespects welfare recipients while he himself takes far more in farm subsidies. That’s how it’s done. Demonize those poor people for taking government money while keeping silent on what he gets. What a NERD! What a GEEK! Have you ever seen an uglier geek, worm in your life? I’d say I’d be hard pressed to find a bigger wussy anywhere.
You bash him like you are related to him.
If he would have supported legalizing marijuana would you change your opinion?
Probably one of the 47% that Romney was talking about, and a stoner too boot.
I’d change my mind if he allowed hemp farming so we can have jeans that last a lifetime and not have to cut down trees. It would give our farmers much better options for bio fuel and ethanol. Merlin’s not for farmers, he’s for Merlin. If you look under wuss in the Wikipedia a picture of Merlin pops up.
Always hated Bill and Candy Schickel. Right wing nutcases who love to legislate their brand of morality. No thanks, I’m not taking morality lessons from the likes of you two.
Amanda has been a great advocate for the poor in North Iowa, also for the elderly and for the disabled, for our cities and for our average working people. She has been an important part of the committee that rewrote mental healthcare. We need her to remain in Des Moines to represent North Iowa.
schickel – ragan sounds interesting. bang – ragan sounds like ragans reelection
Time for Ragan to go.