OTTUMWA —
It wasn’t a perfect night for either party, but the Democrats are feeling pretty good in Wapello County.
“I talked to a lot of voters over the past several months, and they were enthusiastic about the president,” said Steve Siegel, a longtime Democrat who retained his seat as Wapello County Supervisor, “and I think that helped all the way down the ticket.”
So what was his reaction, overall?
“The Wapello County Democrats are back,” he said. “We were all very pleased with the margin of victory in [state Rep.] Mary Gaskill’s race, which was more in line to what we’re used to seeing for Democrat results locally — and which bodes well for our run for the [Iowa] Senate in two years.”
That seat, now held by a Republican, is one the Democrats feel is important to get back, he said.
“Last night, it was in doubt that we would retain the state Senate, but this morning, it looks like we did.”
He thinks the “get out the vote” effort went well in Wapello County, and that it made a difference locally.
“Nationally, all of us are just thrilled that the president won, and won handily in the electoral vote. And he won nine out of 10 battleground states,” Siegel said. “The Republican candidates who were more extreme tended to lose. It wasn’t a perfect night, but it was a very good night around the county, the state and nationally.”
At least, it was for Democrats.
“Obviously, it didn’t turn out like we wanted,” said Trudy Caviness, chairwoman of the Wapello County Republican Party.
Looking at the polls and talking to people, she’d had higher hopes. As long as she’s been involved in politics, however, she said she has learned more with each election.
Because, she has acknowledged to herself, many of the people she spoke to were extremely enthusiastic Republican supporters.
“It gives you a skewed picture when you’re only hearing from Republicans.”
Her biggest disappointment may not be on a national level. She wanted to see more open-mindedness in the Iowa Senate. Right now, the minority party has situations where they are basically ignored.
“The Senate majority [speaker] wouldn’t even let some things come up for debate. There were issues that might have had good bi-partisan support that have not even been able to come up. That’s why I’m disappointed that the Republicans didn’t win the Iowa Senate.”
It wasn’t due to a lack of passion on the part of Republican volunteers, she said — she’s extremely proud of their effort.
“You never win unless you try. Then, sometimes you’ll lose, sometimes you’ll win.”
There’s a silver lining in Tuesday’s gray cloud, Caviness said, a sort of breakout star.
“Obviously, you want to win, but when you come forward and run for office — Blake Smith [at age 24] has made a difference, showing that young people are interested and involved. Iowa had many young people like Blake, who ran for office for the first time. Offhand, I can think of five under 30. That in itself shows a new era, a new generation that wants to come forward and serve the community.”
Wapello County
Election reaction mixed
- Wapello County
-
-
Agency couple has provided foster care for 38 kids in last decade
AGENCY — School pictures of 38 grinning children look out into Angie and Terry Hamm's living room, evidence of the years of work and love they've given to those who needed it most. Their house — currently filled with five children, ages 7, 10, 10, 11
-
Severe weather returns to forecast
OTTUMWA — The National Weather Service believes severe weather could return to Iowa this weekend. The storms are expected to arrive late in the weekend and could extend into the next work week. Meteorologist Kurt Kotenberg said Sunday and Monday have
-
Health clinic in Ottumwa joins Mercy Medical
OTTUMWA — Though their future was uncertain, two local health care practices will continue without any interruption in services to patients and will remain at their current locations in Ottumwa. Ottumwa Internal Medicine North and Ottumwa Family Prac
- 90th Street closed until 2014 OTTUMWA — Not only is 90th Street closed for this summer, it's also closed until the summer of 2014. Wapello County Engineer Brian Moore said Wednesday that the road will be closed for a year while Moore and his team work on the road's design. "There
-
Iowa Supreme Court rejects appeal
DES MOINES – The Iowa Supreme Court has rejected an appeal bid by a Wapello County man previously found to be a sexually violent predator. Cory Blake West was convicted of assault with intent to commit sexual abuse in 2008. He was sentenced to four y
- Board to discuss DHS contract and tourism letter OTTUMWA — Wapello County Supervisor Greg Kenning said a contract with Department of Human Services (DHS) will probably be the main event when the board meets at 5:30 p.m. today in the Wapello County Courthouse. He indicated the DHS contract will pro
-
SLIDESHOW: Race for the Cure
OTTUMWA -- This year's Race for the Cure faced unusually chilly weather, but that didn't deter people from turning out. The annual event brought in runners from across the region.
-
Race for the Cure endures chilly weekend
OTTUMWA -- Hundreds of people endured cold winds Saturday in Ottumwa Park. Why would they do this? Because the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure was there. They crowded into the Jimmy Jones Shelter House and waited for an event, whether it was the one-mile Family Run/Walk, the Co-Ed 5K Run/Walk or the Kids' Fun Run.
- Official emphasizes routine mammograms, self-exams OTTUMWA —The Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure starts at 7 a.m. Saturday in the Jimmy Jones Shelter in Ottumwa Park, and Lynelle Diers hopes everyone will "keep up mammograms." Diers, the executive director of Wapello County Public Health, said Thursd
-
Community health nurses treat and teach
OTTUMWA — Pick up somebody's gross germs from a doorknob, and there are plenty of nurses who will treat the resulting cold. But some nurses will add in a lesson on hand washing. "We're teaching things to avoid communicable illness," said Jacquelyn Po
- More Wapello County Headlines
-
