POLK 183 precincts
Polk County County Seat: Des Moines
More Cities and Towns: Alleman, Altoona, Ankeny, Bondurant, Clive, Elkhart, Grimes, Johnston, Mitchellville, Pleasant Hill, Polk City, Runnells, Saylorville, Sheldahl, Urbandale, West Des Moines, Windsor Heights.

Population (July 2002 est.): 385,691.    - 13.13% of total IA population of 2,936,760.



January 19, 2004 Precinct Caucuses
POLK: CD 3.  183 of 1,993 precincts.
Registered Democrats (Active Jan. 1, 2004): 81,809.    - 15.35% of Democratic statewide total of 533,107.
Delegates to 2004 State Convention: 430 of 3,000.    - 14.3 %.
County Delegates Elected in Precint Caucuses: 1,200 of 13,487.
Attendance: 22,092.    -17.77% of statewide total of 124,331.
County Delegates Elected in Precinct Caucuses
Clark
Dean
Edwards
Gephardt
Kerry
Kucinich
Uncomm.
Other
Total
POLK 
0
170
475
105
425
18
1
6
1,200
0.0%
14.17%
39.58%
8.75%
35.42%
1.50%
0.08%
0.50%
100%
Iowa Total
15
2,342
4,393
1,507
5,002
139
24
65
13,487
0.11%
17.36%
32.57%
11.17%
37.09%
1.03%
0.18%
0.48%
100%
Note: Lieberman and Sharpton received no precinct level delegates.
 

Political Overview:
Partisanship
Polk County Reg. (Active Jan. 1, 2004): Rep. 70,753 (31.35%)  Dem. 81,809 (36.25%)   NP 73,135 (32.40%)   Total: 225,697.
Total IA Reg. (Active. Jan. 1, 2004): Rep. 584,513 (32.10%)   Dem. 533,107 (29.28%)  Grn. 108   NP 703,106 (38.61%)  Total: 1,820,834.

Representation
Polk County Democratic Elected Officials
State Senators 
(Polk County encompasses Senate Districts 30-35 and part of District 21)
34 - Dick Dearden of Des Moines
33 - Jack Hatch of Des Moines
32 - Jack Holveck of Des Moines
31 - Matt McCoy of Des Moines
21 - Dennis Black of Grinnell
State Representatives
(Polk County encompasses House Districts 59-70 and part of District 42)
68 - John Connors of Des Moines
66 - Ed Fallon of Des Moines
65 - Wayne Ford of Des Moines
62 - Bruce Hunter of Des Moines
42 - Geri Huser of Altoona
67 - Kevin McCarthy of Des Moines
61 - Jo Oldson of Des Moines
64 - Janet Petersen of Des Moines
County
Supervisor Tom Hockensmith, District 3
Supervisor John Mauro, District 4
Supervisor Angela Connolly, District 5
John Sarcone, Attorney
Michael Mauro, Auditor
Tim Brien, Recorder
Dennis Anderson, Sheriff
Mary Maloney, Treasurer
 
Polk County Democratic Party
Polk County Democrats
County Chair: Tom Henderson
County Vice Chair: Betty Brim-Hunter
County Treasurer: Steve Hampton
County Secretary: Nita Noble
.

General:
Media
Des Moines Register  (Caucus Watch)
WOI ABC 5
KCCI CBS 8  (Iowa Caucuses page)
WHO NBC 13
KDSM FOX 17
IPTV 11
WHO-AM 1040
The Times-Delphic (Drake University)
. Useful Links
Greater Des Moines Convention & Visitors Bureau
Drake University

The Campaigns in Polk County
Howard Dean
Regional Field Director:
Dave Inbody
Des Moines Organizers:
Buffy Wicks - Beaverdale area
Courtney Thompson - Southside
Jamal Anderson - Westside
John Falcicchio - Eastside
Steve Louthan - Northside
Polk County Organizers:
Aaron Sugarman - West Des Moines
Joe Huser - Clive, Urbandale, Windsor Heights
Kristi Knaack - Ankeny, Grimes, Johnston
Mike McGeary - Altoona, Pleasant Hill
John Edwards
Regional Field Director:
Bill Hyers
John Kerry
Regional Field Director:
Beth Leonard
Field Staff:
Erin McDonough
Josh Warren
Joshua Eickmeier
Julie Andreeff
Matthew Slutsky
Ned Sebelius
Rick Barga
Zac Palmer
Kat Halpenny
Charlie Glaudemans
Daniel Barton
Sara Stephenson
Ari Melber

Key Supporters
Titles and affiliations are listed for identification purposes only.  Based on information provided by the campaigns.  These names have not been confirmed; due to the fluid nature of the campaign some activists on earlier lists may have changed their allegiances.
Howard Dean
Rep. Bruce Hunter (District 62-Des Moines)

Ken Rains - DNC member, Des Moines   announced Dec. 10, 2003

Drake University - Bulldogs for Dean, Amy Ronbeck, President

Labor Support (Aug. 28, 2003)
Tom Gillespie - President of the Iowa State Building & Construction Trades Council, Des Moines
Fran Brownell - IBEW Local #55, Des Moines
Bernard Ortiz - Laborers, Great Plains Laborers District Council of Des Moines...initially announced Aug. 5 2003
Alice Clinton Boyd - ISEA, Des Moines  ...initially announced Aug. 5 2003
Patty Graham - executive board member of ISEA, member of NEA, Des Moines ...initially announced Aug. 5 2003
Paul Mann - former chair of ISEA, NEA, Des Moines  ...initially announced Aug. 5 2003
Jon Neiderbach - AFSCME Local #3450, Des Moines
Mike Quijano - United Steel Workers Local # 310, Des Moines  (also on Kucinich list)
Toni Austin - ISEA vice president, Des Moines
Max Knauer - ISEA, Des Moines
Joe Kline - Carpenters Local #106, Des Moines
Kelly Carlson - UAW Local #450, Ankeny
Jeff Halverson - UAW Local #450, Grimes
Kerry Bowen - CWA Local #7102, Des Moines
Larry James, Sr. - AFSCME Local #1868, Des Moines
 

John Edwards
(April 4, May 29 and Aug. 22, '03 and Jan. 8, '04 releases)
Rep. Wayne Ford (District 65, Des Moines)   Jan. 16, 2004
Rep. Geri Huser (District 42, Altoona)   Jan. 8, 2004
Dennis Anderson - Polk County Sheriff, Pleasant Hill   May 29, 2003 (Polk County Coordinator)

(State Co-Chairs - Jan. 29, 2003)
Rob Tully - Galligan, Tully, Doyle & Reid, P.C. in Des Moines; chair of the Iowa Democratic Party, 1999-2001.
Roxanne Conlin - Roxanne Conlin & Associates, P.C., Des Moines; Democratic nominee for Governor, 1982.

(April 4, 2003)
Don Boulby - retired Teamster, Des Moines
Scott Brown - Executive Director of Iowa Trial Lawyers, Des Moines
Chris Godfrey - workers' rights attorney and community leader, Des Moines
Brad Lint - former Director of Iowa Citizen Action Network, Des Moines
Dr. Greg Peterson - physician, Des Moines
Alfredo Parrish - civil rights attorney, Des Moines
Margaret Stuart - attorney, Des Moines
Eric Thomae - President of Drake University Law School Democrats, Des Moines
Joan Vonk - retired member of Postal Workers Union, Des Moines
Russ Vonk - retired President of Des Moines local Letter Carriers, Des Moines
Dave Wiggins - attorney, Des Moines

(May 29, 2003)
Joseph Barron - activist, Des Moines
Romonda Belcher - Assistant Polk County Attorney, Des Moines
James Ferguson - activist, Des Moines
Sonna Gerkham - activist, Des Moines
Lloyd Hughes - activist, Des Moines
Laura Larkin-White - activist, Des Moines
Sean Larson - activist, Des Moines
Janet Lemmerman - activist, Des Moines
Betty Manley - activist, Des Moines
Eugene Manley - activist, Des Moines
Jan Manning - activist, West Des Moines

Lora McCollom - attorney, West Des Moines
Maggie Moss - attorney, Des Moines
Jodie Sacco - activist, Des Moines
Dr. Alan Sisson of Des Moines
James Sutton - activist, Des Moines

(Aug. 22, 2003)
Mark Amadeo - activist, Des Moines
Dolores Blount - activist, Des Moines
Joyce Borg - activist, Des Moines
Richard Borg - activist, Des Moines
Lisa Elsbecker - activist, Ankeny
Al Flyr - activist, Colfax
Jill Flyr - activist, Colfax
Joe Gantile - activist, Des Moines
Marvin Gay - activist, Des Moines
Katie Hicks - activist, Des Moines
Norma Keenan - activist, West Des Moines
Robert Marks - activist, Urbandale
Chris McTurk - activist, Des Moines
John Prim - activist, West Des Moines
Valerie Pugh - activist, Des Moines
Linda Ramirez - activist, West Des Moines
Barbara Rowland - activist, Des Moines
Dennis Schemmel - activist, West Des Moines
Jeremy Smith - activist, Des Moines
Betty Smith - activist, Des Moines
Harold Smith - activist, Des Moines
John Spellman - activist, Urbandale

(Jan. 8, 2004)
Altoona School Board member Brad Skinner
Ed Skinner - attorney, longtime Democratic activist, former member of the Iowa Democratic Party's State Central Committee, and father of State Rep. Geri Huser.
Bill Wimmer - attorney

(Jan. 15, 2004)
Des Moines City Council Member Chris Coleman

Des Moines Register Jan. 11, 2004
Iowa Bystander Jan. 2004
statewide African-American newspaper, editor Jonathan Narcisse.

Dick Gephardt
Sen. Dick Dearden of Des Moines    District Chair-Polk
Rep. John Connors (District 68, Des Moines)    District Chair-Polk

Sharon Dearden - activist, retired IAMA member    District Chair-Polk
Tom Hockensmith - Polk County Supervisor     District Chair-Polk

State Co-Chairs (two of the 10 announced Jan. 6, 2004)
Jean Haugland, Des Moines - former member of the Democratic National Committee; former State Party Vice Chair; statewide Democratic activist
Duane McAninch, Des Moines - founder of the McAninch Corporation, one of the largest contracting companies in the Midwest; Democratic activist

Drake University - Andrea Chase
Drake Law School - Brent Hinders
 

John Kerry
Sen. Jack Hatch of Des Moines
Sen. Matt McCoy of Des Moines
Rep. Janet Petersen (District 64, Des Moines)
Rep. Jo Oldson (District 61, Des Moines)
also Sen. Dennis Black of Grinnell

State Chair
Jerry Crawford-Des Moines attorney who has chaired the Polk County Democrats.  He was state chair for Dukakis in 1988 and worked on the Mondale, Clinton, and Gore presidential campaigns.
 
More State Leadership (Oct. 9, 2003)
Willie Glanton - Former State Representative    (State Co-Chair)
David Hurd - President of the Board for Iowa Environmental council    (State Co-Chair)
Tom Baccam - Leader in the Des Moines Asian American community
Connie Boesen - Des Moines School Board Member
Harry Bookey - Business and civic leader   (Kerry Polk County Chair)
Angela Connolly - Polk County Supervisor
Peggy Huppert - Former Polk County Chair and Executive Director of Chrysylis
Debbie Neustadt - Sierra Club
Virginia Petersen - activist
John Sarcone - Polk County Attorney   (Kerry Polk County Chair)

Veterans for Kerry (Aug. 26, 2003)
State Co-Chairs
Jack Dewey, Des Moines   ...Air Force, WWII.
John Feller, Des Moines   ...Merchant Marines, WWII; Navy, Korea.
Central Regional Director
Mark Wallace, Des Moines    ...Army; National Guard.
Polk County Chair
Alexander McIntyre, Des Moines    ...Army, WWII.

Labor Support (Aug. 18, 2003)
Tracy Conner - Union Representative, AFSCME Council 61
Gerald Ott - retired, National Staff Union (Iowa State Education Association)
Lee Thielmann - Plumbers & Pipefitters

and
Ako Abdul-Samad - prominent community activist(Jan. 17, 2004)
 

Dennis Kucinich
Rep. Ed Fallon (District 66, Des Moines)

Kucinich Campaign Draws Support of Diverse Group of Iowans (Jan. 16, 2004)
LaVon and Craig Griffieon - family farmers, Ankeny
Chet Guinn - retired minister; board member of STAR-PAC, Des Moines
Jane Magers - long-time peace and community activist, Des Moines
Maggie Rawland - president, Des Moines branch of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom
Midge Slater - CWA, Des Moines
Wilbur Wilson - former COPE chair, Steelworkers Local 310; organizing chair, South Central Federation of Labor, Des Moines

Rank and File Iowa Labor for Kucinich (Sept. 1, 2003)
Larry Bailiff - COPE Committee, Steelworkers Local 310, Des Moines
Greg Cross - UE International Representative, Des Moines.
Jim Martens - COPE Committee, Steelworkers Local 310, Des Moines
Jeremy Maske - Steward, AFGE Local 836, Des Moines
Mike Quijano - Steward/COPE committee, Steelworkers Local 310, Des Moines  (also on Dean list)
Shane Shook - President, AFSCME Local 3450, Des Moines
Midge Slater - CWA, Des Moines
Bob Straker - President, AFSCME Local 35, Des Moines
Wilbur Wilson - COPE Chair, Alternate Steward, Steelworkers Local 310; Organizing Chair, South Central Federation of Labor, Des Moines
 

Joe Lieberman
Attorney General Tom Miller - became Iowa Attorney General in 1978, re-elected to a sixth term in 2002; a friend of Lieberman's from his time as Connecticut Attorney General, 1982-88.   ...announced May 10, 2003
Rep. Kevin McCarthy (District 67, Des Moines)
Paulee Lipsman - House Democratic director, ex-DNC member.
Tim Brien - Polk County Recorder.
Steve Wandro - Des Moines attorney.
Som Baccam - Des Moines School Board member.
Jo Corigliano - chair, South Des Moines Revitalization Partnership.
Ray Blase - Bureau Chief, Polk County Attorney's Office.
Laura Sands - Des Moines School Board member.
 
 

 
Ownership: Gannett Co., Inc.
Publisher: Mary P. Stier 
Ownership: New York Times Co.
News Director: Mark Ginther
Political Reporter: Dave Price
Ownership: Hearst-Argyle Television

 
 

Copyright © 2003, 2004 Eric M. Appleman/Democracy in Action.