- News
- September 10, 2009
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Response to Republican Party Name Calling
by Francis ThickeIn response to my announcement yesterday to run for Iowa Secretary of Agriculture, The Iowa Republican Party’s Executive Director Jeff Boeyink issued a release that was long on name calling and slander, but absent of substance. Boeyink called me an “ultra radical” who “would spell disaster to the stability and sustainability of our family farmers and the jobs they represent.”
However, my campaign focuses on increasing the economic and environmental sustainability of Iowa’s family farms. Advocating for conserving our soil, water quality, family farms, and rural communities is not radical. To me that fits the definition of a true conservative.
I have been a successful family farmer for over 25 years. Iowa agriculture today faces major challenges, as well as tremendous opportunities. I would welcome an opportunity to debate Bill Northey–or Jeff Boeyink–on issues of importance to Iowa agriculture. However, I am not interested in indulging in name calling or slander.
I would like to avoid a mud-slinging campaign. As a friend of mine likes to say, “There is no mud on the high road.”