Callanan campaign raises thousands of dollars with help of Dr. Gary Blodgett

CLEAR LAKE – Casey Callanan, a Republican running for the seat on the Cerro Gordo Board of Supervisors being vacated by Bob Amosson, is enjoying the benefits of his longtime association with one of North Iowa’s most influential Republicans. In interviews with Mr. Callanan and Gary Blodgett NorthIowaToday.com has learned that over $23,000 rolled into the Callanan campaign in about a three-week time frame, most-likely the result of a letter Blodgett signed endorsing Callanan. Online records verify claims that what Blodgett has raised for Callanan even exceeds the amount he raised for both 2012 campaigns of Supervisor Jay Urdahl, a Mason City Democrat.

Dr. Gary Blodgett is a retired Mason City orthodontist and businessman who represented Cerro Gordo county in the Iowa Legislature from 1992-2001, where he served as Deputy Majority Leader. President George W. Bush appointed Blodgett to the position of federal administrative Judge in 2001, and he served in Washington, D.C. during both of Bush’s terms as President. His wife, Sandy, and son, Todd, and daughter, Suzette, all have worked in the White House under three Republican administrations.

Callanan worked for Blodgett as an intern in his office in the state Capitol and later, Dr. Blodgett helped him land an internship with the Budget Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives. When Callanan decided to seek the Supervisor post, he asked Blodgett to endorse him. This was done in a fundraising letter mailed to Cerro Gordo Republicans, signed by Gary and Sandy Blodgett. A copy of the letter was furnished to NIT by a recipient who subscribes to NorthIowaToday.com.

Blodgett’s letter raised substantial funds, Mr. Callanan told NIT, but declined to reveal a specific amount while not denying that his campaign has taken in dollar figures passed along to NIT.

“I’m very grateful for Dr. Blodgett’s help and guidance over the years,” Mr. Callanan said in a phone interview Friday afternoon.

According to online campaign finance records, Jay Urdahl – with Blodgett’s help – has for decades been Cerro Gordo county’s all-time champion in raising money for campaigns for county office. Urdahl still has $17,060.55 left over from his 2012 re-election. A Mason City Democrat, speaking on condition of anonymity, told NorthIowaToday.com that “With doc’s backing, Jay got in, and stays in. But Urdahl’s never raised over ten grand in any one year. Dr. Blodgett raised Callanan more than twenty-three grand in what I heard was about three weeks.” When asked how he knew that $23,000 was raised in approximately 21 days, the source said, “I’m close with some Democrats and two Republicans who know Callanan, and that’s exactly what they said Casey told them over a month ago.” The letter is dated Feb. 2. The Democrat said all of this money is from individuals, not from PACs, which is “unheard of around here, especially for a Primary for county office, for a first-time candidate. Callanan’s probably raised more than all six other candidates put together. Blodgett’s letter averaged over $1,100 a day for Callanan, for three straight weeks. That’s never happened before.”

Gary Blodgett has for decades been among Iowa’s best-connected, ‘Go-To’ Republicans, who, in his own, first campaign in 1992 raised nearly $60,000 from individual contributors in short order. He has been extensively involved in the campaigns of Iowa Governor Terry Branstad, Senator Chuck Grassley, Congressmen Steve King, Tom Latham, Jim Nussle, and Fred Grandy.

Blodgett has also raised money for, and been an adviser to, every GOP U.S. President from from Gerald R. Ford to George W. Bush. But he has shown a willingness in local races to be bipartisan. Democrat Urdahl has been a beneficiary of Blodgett’s ‘Midas Touch’, as Blodgett has raised “umpteen thousands of dollars for Urdahl’s campaigns,” according to a Courthouse employee. His prolific fundraising was also a major factor blocking efforts by a North Iowa community activist in 2010 who initially proposed adding two new seats to the BOS, which would have increased it to five members.

Blodgett got involved, raising money to oppose the effort, and the idea was soon dropped. In 2012, Blodgett helped Democrat Phil Dougherty turn the tide against Mr. Watts, whose candidacy for county Supervisor represented his strongest-ever challenge. At Dougherty’s request, Blodgett arranged for brochures and letters he signed endorsing Dougherty to be mailed to every registered Republican in the district. Politicians from both parties credited Gary Blodgett with making possible the closest victory Dougherty ever won.

Blodgett’s own money, and funds he raised, also enabled his chosen successor, the late Roger Broers, to narrowly defeat Democrat John Jaszewski in the 2000 race for Blodgett’s seat in the Iowa Legislature, a Clear Lake Democrat told NIT. “I’ll tell you what,” the Democrat said, “it’s like, if you’re a Republican, or even a Democrat that wants to win, getting on old doc’s good side is a great way to do it. I mean, if Gary wants you to be elected, you probably will be. Unfortunately.”

Callanan says he’s “grateful” for Dr. Blodgett’s help, and the money which is fueling his campaign. Gary Blodgett told NIT in a phone interview this week that “It takes money to win elections. Nothing prevents any candidates from raising it, and nothing stops any supporters from making sure their candidates have it. In my view, Casey’s the best-qualified candidate seeking this office. He’ll do a fine fine job as a Supervisor, he’ll serve honorably – and I’ll do what I can to make sure he wins.”