Top O' the Morn!

The Conservative Breakfast Club met Tuesday morning at the Republican Party of Iowa Headquarters. Once again the tables were packed with Conservatives enjoying each other’s company and an Irish breakfast thanks in part to organizers Darrell Kearney and Wes Peterson.

Jeffrey Boeyink, RPI’s new Executive Director, was introduced and spoke to the growing strength of the Republican Party. He and the State Chairman, Matt Strawn, have been traveling around the state energizing Republicans at town meetings. Boeyink is excited about the energy and new leadership he has seen across the state. His sole purpose, said Boeyink, is to foster this energy and to get Republicans elected.

Freshman Senator Randy Feenstra from Hull, Iowa in Senate District 2 was up next. Senator Feenstra had been the head of a foreign candy company that made popular sweets, like my personal favorite, Black Forest Gummy Bears. He resigned the successful career to begin a family, and was soon approached by community leaders to be Hull’s City Administrator. His political career took off from there, and was elected County Treasurer where he streamlined the budget and cut government waste. Senator Feenstra ran for the Senate for three reasons: He felt that the state shouldn’t pass laws mandating certain aspects of local and county governance; he wanted to reign in on the state’s bureaucratic mess as he did in his own county; and he wanted to promote Conservative values and fiscal responsibility.

Freshman Representative Kevin Koester from Ankeny, who touted his Irish heritage, described how he was persuaded to run for office. He enjoyed his work as a Community Service Administrator and gave an adamant “No” after being asked to run for State House several times by Steve Boal, former Representative Carmine Boal’s husband. He finally gave it some thought after being asked to pray about it, and made a successful run for the office. Representative Koester credits the state party leadership and the legislative leaders for their successes in reorganizing and reenergizing the Republican Party.

Both of the these freshman legislators are illustrative of the rest of the new class of Republicans; not only are they excellent speakers, but they are full of energy and are excited for the rebirth of the Republican Party and getting Republicans elected in 2010.