Nominating conventions put Burgmeier, Hanson on ballot

Stephen Burgmeier and Curt Hanson have been officially nominated as the Republican and Democratic candidates respectively for the special election to fill the vacancy in Iowa House District 90. 

Burgmeier received the Republican nomination for the seat at a special nominating convention held Thursday in Fairfield. He will begin his campaign immediately.

Hanson was chosen as the Democratic nominee during a special nominating convention Wednesday night in Fairfield.

?I?m truly honored to be selected as the Democratic nominee for state representative in District 90. I look forward to meeting voters in Jefferson, Wapello and Van Buren counties to listen to their ideas and share my vision for Iowa ? good-paying jobs through key industries like renewable energy, affordable health care for Iowans and a balanced state budget,? Hanson said.

Burgmeier said, ?I am excited to be the candidate for the Iowa House of Representatives. I believe the message of a limited state government, a balanced state budget and once again getting Iowans involved in the process of government, are important to the future of Iowa. I will lead with the values that I have used my entire life; as a husband, as the father of five young adults, as a Jefferson County Supervisor over eight years, as a church and community volunteer and as a small business owner. I am ready to continue to listen to the voters in Jefferson, Van Buren and Wapello counties, and together, we will work to make Iowa a better place to live, work and raise a family.?

Republican Party of Iowa State Chairman Matt Strawn welcomed Burgmeier as the Republican candidate.

Strawn said, ?Stephen Burgmeier is an outstanding candidate and my pledge as state party chairman to him is that we are in it to win it. 

  ?This is clearly a lean Democrat district and presents a big challenge for Iowa Republicans. President Obama carried it by nearly 1,400 votes and Democrats hold an advantage in voter registration. However, we are going to carry the fight and the Republican message to all corners of Iowa and a victory here begins the process of bringing fiscal sanity back to our state, giving Iowans the opportunity to vote on marriage and recognizing that private individuals, not more debt spending by the state, creates jobs in Iowa,? Strawn said.

Hanson, in turn, has been endorsed by Rep. John Whitaker, who resigned last week to become Iowa director of the Farm Service Agency.

  ?I?ve known Curt for over 20 years, and he is a man you can trust. He has the two most important qualities needed to serve as your state representative ? he works hard and he listens. I can think of no other citizen in our community better suited for the job, and I encourage the people of House District 90 to vote for Curt Hanson on Sept. 1,? Whitaker said. 

The special election is set for Sept. 1.

For this complete article, see the Friday, July 24, 2009, printed edition of The Fairfield Ledger.