Vilsack gets boost from labor
By Charlotte Eby, Journal Des Moines Bureau | Posted: Wednesday, August 03, 2005
DES MOINES -- Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack got a big boost from labor unions for the launch of his new political action committee, Heartland PAC, which reported raising $635,000 in just five weeks this year.
Vilsack formed Heartland PAC to help elect Democratic candidates for governor and statewide office next year. But many see Vilsack's PAC as a launching pad for a possible presidential run in 2008.
A recent report showed labor donations made up a large share of Vilsack's total, but the Democratic governor was also able to pull in money from the business sector.
The largest donors included the Service Employees International Union, or SEIU, and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, or AFSCME, which both donated $100,000.
MidAmerican Energy made a hefty $100,000 contribution to Vilsack's PAC, and the McAninch Corporation, an earthmoving and utility construction company in West Des Moines, pitched in $25,000.
"I think this demonstrates very early support, and this represents interest by those in the very early stages of Heartland PAC's effort to promote ideas for the party," spokeswoman Kiki McLean said.
Other large donors included the National Education Association, which wrote a check for $50,000. Both the International Association of Fire Fighters and the International Union of Painters Allied Trades were $25,000 contributors.
Vilsack is not running for re-election as Iowa's governor in 2006, and has pledged to spend time helping Democratic candidates for governor and statewide elected officials around the country next year.
In a message on the Heartland PAC's Web site, Vilsack said that effort will help "to pave the way to regain the majority status" for Democrats.
"To win elections -- and to regain the majority status -- we will have to draw a bright line between our party and our opponents," Vilsack writes on the Web site "We will have to become the party of ideas and the party of candidates who inspire and take action."
Dennis Goldford, a professor of political science at Drake University, said Vilsack's PAC and the fundraising effort are a way for him to test his potential as a presidential candidate.
"You've got to be able to draw on support like this, and one of the best ways of deciding whether you've got a shot is to see if you can garner that support early on," Goldford said.
The donor list for Heartland PAC reflects Vilsack's history of strong labor backing, Goldford said, going back to his first campaign for governor in 1998.
"Vilsack has always done well in that regard," Goldford said.
Some of the other donors included the following:
-- Fred Eychaner of Chicago, CEO of Newsweb Inc., donated $50,000.
-- Debra Cafaro, of Glencoe, Ill., president and CEO of real estate company Ventas Inc., donated $25,000.
-- Iowa real estate developer Bill Knapp donated $50,000.
-- Peter Morton, founder of the Hard Rock Cafe chain, donated $10,000.
Vilsack formed Heartland PAC to help elect Democratic candidates for governor and statewide office next year. But many see Vilsack's PAC as a launching pad for a possible presidential run in 2008.
A recent report showed labor donations made up a large share of Vilsack's total, but the Democratic governor was also able to pull in money from the business sector.
The largest donors included the Service Employees International Union, or SEIU, and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, or AFSCME, which both donated $100,000.
MidAmerican Energy made a hefty $100,000 contribution to Vilsack's PAC, and the McAninch Corporation, an earthmoving and utility construction company in West Des Moines, pitched in $25,000.
"I think this demonstrates very early support, and this represents interest by those in the very early stages of Heartland PAC's effort to promote ideas for the party," spokeswoman Kiki McLean said.
Other large donors included the National Education Association, which wrote a check for $50,000. Both the International Association of Fire Fighters and the International Union of Painters Allied Trades were $25,000 contributors.
Vilsack is not running for re-election as Iowa's governor in 2006, and has pledged to spend time helping Democratic candidates for governor and statewide elected officials around the country next year.
In a message on the Heartland PAC's Web site, Vilsack said that effort will help "to pave the way to regain the majority status" for Democrats.
"To win elections -- and to regain the majority status -- we will have to draw a bright line between our party and our opponents," Vilsack writes on the Web site "We will have to become the party of ideas and the party of candidates who inspire and take action."
Dennis Goldford, a professor of political science at Drake University, said Vilsack's PAC and the fundraising effort are a way for him to test his potential as a presidential candidate.
"You've got to be able to draw on support like this, and one of the best ways of deciding whether you've got a shot is to see if you can garner that support early on," Goldford said.
The donor list for Heartland PAC reflects Vilsack's history of strong labor backing, Goldford said, going back to his first campaign for governor in 1998.
"Vilsack has always done well in that regard," Goldford said.
Some of the other donors included the following:
-- Fred Eychaner of Chicago, CEO of Newsweb Inc., donated $50,000.
-- Debra Cafaro, of Glencoe, Ill., president and CEO of real estate company Ventas Inc., donated $25,000.
-- Iowa real estate developer Bill Knapp donated $50,000.
-- Peter Morton, founder of the Hard Rock Cafe chain, donated $10,000.
Story Comments
Read More and Post Comments 0 comment(s)
Please note: The following are comments from readers. In no way do they represent the views of The Sioux City Journal or Lee Enterprises. We will not edit or alter your comments, but we do reserve the right to not post or to remove comments that violate our code of conduct. No comment may contain potentially libelous statements; obscene, explicit or racist language; personal attacks, insults or threats. Terms of Service
