Local Iowa officials and activists urge Vice President Joe Biden to jump into 2016 Presidential Race

Prominent Iowa elected officials have come forward to publicly endorse the Draft Biden movement and have planned to sign onto a letter urging Vice President Joe Biden to jump into 2016 Presidential Race.

"Despite all the recent political activity and announcements regarding the presidential elections, it is exciting to see that there are people still urging Joe Biden to get into the 2016 race," said Draft Biden 2016 Executive Director Will Pierce. "Joe is busy performing his duties as the Vice President and has said publicly that he has time to make a decision. Building a base of strong support among Iowans and other key early states for a Biden candidacy will allow the Vice President to jump into the race with an infrastructure and organization already in place."

Draft Biden 2016 Executive Director Will Pierce visited Iowa last month to meet with local officials, activists, and media. As a result of the meetings, prominent Iowa elected officials have come forward to publicly endorse the Draft Biden movement and have planned to sign onto a letter urging Vice President Joe Biden to jump into 2016 Presidential Race.

Headlining the list of initial endorsers include State Senator Tony Bisignano (17th District), State Representative Jim Lykam (89th District), State Representative Mary A. Gaskill (81st District), and Scott County Auditor Roxanna Moritz.

Excerpts from the letter that will be sent on behalf of the elected officials urging Vice President Biden to run for the Democratic presidential ticket in 2016:

"Everything you and President Barack Obama have done for this country during the last two terms will be on the line. Will we continue the great work that has been done or let this country take a sharp turn onto the wrong path? There are so many accomplishments and yet so much left to be done."

"We also believe that we hold elections in this country, not coronations. No candidate is "inevitable;" Democratic primary voters deserve a choice. All voters deserve a choice."

"We as elected officials, organizers and leaders of the great state of Iowa, are strongly endorsing the efforts of Draft Biden 2016 and urging you to enter the 2016 Presidential Race."

Local supporter of the Draft Biden 2016 movement and Regional Field Organizer on Vice President Biden's 2008 Presidential campaign, Sharon Holle of Davenport, IA, highlighted the strong relationship the Vice President enjoys with Iowans, "Since the 2008 election, Vice President Biden has kept in touch with his 2008 campaign staff.  Each time that he comes to Iowa he makes sure that he gets to see us in person; he calls us his family."

Holle further articulated the growing anticipation for his announcement, "Now it's 2015 and another Presidential election is near. Every one of our 2008 Biden staffers continue to wait for his announcement and are anxious to open a new Biden for President office when he does. There are thousands of Iowa volunteers and counting who can't wait to get to work for Joe, he just needs to announce."

With Iowa being the first true test of a candidate's organization and support, Draft Biden will soon have Iowa staff and a field office up and running within the next month.  Draft Biden's Executive Director, Will Pierce, also attended the South Carolina Democratic Convention last month as well as the South Carolina Jefferson-Jackson dinner the night before with base-building already underway in the "First in the South" primary state.

Presidential Issues, No Candidates Necessary ? for Now

Summit Goal: Wage, Justice Issues Should Shape Coming Iowa Campaign

Who says you need presidential candidates to talk political issues in Iowa?

Former U.S. Labor Secretary Robert Reich will keynote a Working Families Summit scheduled for Saturday, May 16, in Ames.

The event, coordinated by several progressive, labor and advocacy organizations, is free and open to the public ? though space will be limited and reservations are required.

"Remember, candidates and ultimately presidents work for us," said Ken Sagar, president of the Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO, a leading sponsor of the May 16 event in Ames.

"Our Working Families Summit is designed to bring together progressive Iowans and progressive ideas, so more Iowans and political candidates at all levels better understand the issues that are critical to working families.

"This is especially important with a presidential campaign already underway in our state, and big choices ahead in 2016 up and down the ballot."

The Summit will run from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Scheman Building at Iowa State University, with morning remarks from Larry Cohen, president of the Communications Workers of America (CWA); Sarita Gupta, executive director of Jobs with Justice; and Tefere Gebre, executive vice president, AFL-CIO.

Breakout sessions will focus on many hot-button topics for working families: wages, work supports such as child care and paid medical leave, retirement, education, civil rights and current political attacks on workers.

The event will close with Reich's keynote and remarks by Sagar.

"Iowans will have plenty of time between now and next February to meet with and hear from candidates for president," Sagar said. "What we need now is a common agenda on issues ranging from our low wages, to how to better support families and protect civil rights."

No presidential candidates will be speaking at the event ? though any are welcome to attend.

"This will be a great opportunity for presidential candidates to hear the concerns about concrete issues facing Iowa's working families," Sagar said.

Sponsors include the AFL-CIO along with many Iowa labor and advocacy organizations focused on concerns for working families in Iowa: Iowa Federation of Labor; AFSCME Iowa Council 61; Iowa Building and Trades Council; Communications Workers of America (CWA), Iowa Postal Workers Union (APWU), League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), Iowa State Education Association (ISEA), Iowa Citizen Action Network (ICAN), Americans for Democratic Action (ADA), Laborers International Union of Northern America (LIUNA), Iowa Alliance for Retired Americans (ARA), Progress Iowa, Iowa Policy Project, Center for Worker Justice of Eastern Iowa, Iowa Community Action Association, American Friends Service Committee, American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), South Central Iowa Federation of Labor, Move On, United Auto Workers (UAW), Working America, AFGE, UFCW, UAW, APWU Local 44, IUPAT, NALC, IBEW, USW, IAMAW, UE, Alliance for American Manufacturing, Mid-Iowa Community Action, and Make it Work.

Members of the public are welcome and admission is free, but a donation of non-perishable food items is requested. To register for the summit, go to progressiowa.org/workingfamiliessummit, and for more information, visit the Working Families Summit page on Facebook.

Free round-trip bus service to the event is available from the Quad-Cities, Iowa City, Cedar Rapids, Dubuque, Manchester and Evansdale. To reserve a bus seat, call 309-738-3196 or email tracy@iowaaflcio.org.

To market and support consortium efforts, a new website has been created, IowaCaucus.org, as well as a Twitter account at @IAcaucus2016 using the hashtag #iacaucus.

"The community's collaboration in hosting local, regional, national and international media during the Iowa Caucuses is key," says Greg Edwards, President and CEO of the Greater Des Moines Convention and Visitors Bureau. "Creating consistent messaging for the region and working together to provide an incredible experience for the media and visitors will help us leverage the opportunity as a marketing tool to strengthen Greater Des Moines as a visitor destination."

The consortium plans to host Caucus-related events including a potential Candidate Series and Issues Forum. Additionally, the consortium will create an advisory committee of engaged local politicos with potential opportunities for young professionals. In 2016, the media filing center will be managed by the Iowa Democratic Party and the Republican Party of Iowa.

"The Iowa Caucuses place our state at the epicenter of the political world and provide us an incredible opportunity to showcase Greater Des Moines to a national and global audience," adds Jay Byers, CEO of the Greater Des Moines Partnership. "Through this partnership, we are able to further maximize our regional economic development marketing efforts to promote Central Iowa as a great place to build a business, a career and a future."

"In addition to celebrating agriculture, Iowa's advanced manufacturing, biosciences and financial services are key industries for this national platform," says Debi Durham, Director of the Iowa Economic Development Authority. "As the first state in the nation to host a major electoral event, Iowa is well positioned to capitalize on the opportunity to showcase our state's economic vitality across these multiple industries."

The new website provides local resources like a candidate tracker and voter information. Plus, media resources include credentialing for Caucus events, suggested shoot locations, photo and b-roll requests, pro tips from The Des Moines Register for covering the Iowa Caucuses and late night dining options. Candidate resources include a Caucus events calendar, intern opportunities for Drake University students, restaurants and hotels information.

The 2008 Iowa Caucuses (dual party) brought 2,500 media and $25 million in visitor spending as economic impact to Greater Des Moines. The 2012 Caucuses (single party) brought 1,500 media and $17 million in visitor spending as economic impact to Greater Des Moines.

For more information on the Iowa Caucuses, visit IowaCaucus.org and follow @IAcaucus2016 on Twitter.

Moline, Illinois. (April 10, 2015) -- The Annual Rock Island County Republican Lincoln Day Dinner to be held April 17th at University Club, Moline.

The Annual Rock Island County Republican Lincoln Day Dinner will be held April 17, 2015 at the University Club, 1518 5th Avenue, downtown Moline, Illinois. Mr. William Bloom, Rock Island County Republican Central Committee chairman will be the master of ceremonies. Doors open at 5:00 p.m. with a social hour from 5:30-6:30 p.m. and dinner following at 6:30 p.m. Music during the social hour will include music by David Holcomb, a well known local pianist.

"This year's Lincoln Day Dinner is an outstanding opportunity for people to meet, dine, talk to elected officials and meet newly elected officials. We are pleased that Senator Neil Anderson, Illinois' 36th Senate District will be delivering the keynote address." states Mark Archibald, Lincoln Day Committee chairman. The event will begin with an invocation by Rev. Thomas Janikowski, Trinity Anglican Church, Rock Island and the Pledge of Allegiance led by Captain William Albracht. Immediately following, Quad City singer Nancy Jahn Mielke will perform an opening song "God Bless America".

Other speakers for the evening are Mr. Michael Lucci, Director of Jobs and Growth, Illinois Policy Institute; Captain William Albracht, Silver Stars Recipient and author of Abandoned in Hell: The Fight for Vietnam's Firebase Kate; Congressman Bobby Schilling, Former U.S. Representative Illinois' 17th Congressional District. In addition there will be a Rock Island County Board update by Drue Mielke, Rock Island County Board Minority Caucus Leader.

The Tom Getz and Dr. Lois Frels Young Republicans Award will be presented as well as a silent auction and raffle. Tickets are $40.00 per person and be purchased online at www.ricogop.org/lincoln-day-dinner and are available at the door.

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