This morning Jon Neiderbach announced on Facebook that he will seek the Democratic nomination for governor:
I make two promises: I will not accept donations of over $500 – big money is poisoning our politics – and there is nobody you can vote for in 2018 who will do more to fight a rigged system, shake up Iowa government, and help Iowans achieve the American dream. I will be campaigning essentially full-time: please help me with a small donation to help kick off this campaign.
Neiderbach’s campaign website is under construction, but a preliminary version is online. He’s also on Twitter and Facebook. Click here for more background on the former Des Moines School Board member and 2014 Democratic nominee for state auditor.
Neiderbach, fellow gubernatorial candidate Rich Leopold, and State Representative Todd Prichard, who may seek the nomination too, will all speak at tonight’s Ankeny Area Democrats Annual Winter Fundraising Banquet. The event starts at 6 pm at United Auto Workers of America Local 450, 4589 NW 6th Dr in Des Moines. Featured speakers will also include new Iowa Democratic Party chair Derek Eadon, Senate Minority Leader Rob Hogg, House Minority Leader Mark Smith, and Ankeny City Councilwoman Kerry Walter-Ashby. I won’t be able to attend this dinner but would welcome a guest post if someone wants to share impressions later. Guidelines for Bleeding Heartland authors are here.
February 9 press release:
Jon Neiderbach from Windsor Heights today announced his candidacy for Governor. Neiderbach, a former President of the Des Moines School Board, was the Democratic nominee for State Auditor in 2014. He previously worked for 14 years as a non-partisan analyst for the Iowa legislature and for 15 years for the Iowa Department of Human Services. He currently has a law practice in Des Moines.
“Iowans throughout the state have told me that they are frustrated and angry, that they feel they cannot get ahead. No matter how hard they work their incomes do not keep up with the prices they pay. No matter what they are promised taxes and insurance costs keep increasing and the quality of the services they get keeps decreasing. Some tell me they still face discrimination because of their health or gender or race or accent or religion. Their hopes to buy a house, send their children to college without huge debt, and enjoy a secure retirement are slipping away, and they are afraid of the future. In short, Iowans I meet throughout the state believe the system is rigged against people like them.”
“I am running because I believe this frustration and anger and fear is being ignored, and this must change. I am running because our politics are dominated by those who able to donate big money to political campaigns, by those who can afford to hire lobbyists to advocate their interests. I am running because Iowans deserve more than political deals made at the last minute to let the legislators go home and the status quo to continue.”
“I have the passion, the commitment, and the experience to fight a rigged system that makes it nearly impossible for Iowans to achieve the American dream. I respectfully ask for the vote of every Iowa voter who like me is fed up with politics and government as usual and who like me is ready to take back our politics and our government.”