Iowa Democratic Caucus

Former U.S. Rep. Nagle to be Honored at Democratic Party Celebration

Former Congressman Dave Nagle – who represented eastern Iowa, including Iowa City, for six years – will be inducted into the Iowa Democratic Party’s “Hall of Fame” at its celebration in Des Moines tomorrow.

Nagle, 68, of Cedar Falls, has been practicing law since serving in Congress and is being honored as the party’s 2011 “Outstanding Elected Official.”

Nagle, speaking from his Waterloo law office, said he’s honored to accept the award, but said there are more people than just himself that deserve recognition throughout his career.

“I had absolutely wonderful people work with me. No one ever worked for me,” Nagle said.

“The body of work, whether it was the party or in Congress, was the product of a cooperative effort of a lot of good people.”

Twenty-five years ago, Nagle, a native of Grinnell, won a primary election against former state representative Lowell Norland (D-Kensett). He would go on to defeat former state representative John McIntee (R-Waterloo) to win a seat in Congress representing Iowa’s 3rd district – the first Democrat elected in over 50 years to represent the area. At the time, the third district stretched from the Minnesota border down south through Cedar Falls and Iowa City, encompassing counties in the northeastern region of the state.

During his tenure in Congress, Nagle said he was particularly proud of helping to secure funding for the Avenue of the Saints, the four-lane highway running through Iowa that connects St. Paul to St. Louis. The project is credited with increasing interstate commerce and bringing economic opportunities to eastern Iowa.

Serving on the U.S. House Agriculture Committee, Nagle was also at the forefront of the farm credit crisis in 1988.

“That legislation putting a moratorium on farm foreclosures was actually drafted in my office,” he said.

During George H.W. Bush’s administration, Nagle acted as the Democratic point person in the House during the collapse of the Soviet Union and helped shepherd the Freedom Support Act of 1992, which provided economic support to a struggling Russia and other emerging democracies in the region – something Nagle said the elder President Bush deserved more credit for than he received at the time.

Republican Jim Nussle would later defeat Nagle by one-percent (2,966 votes) after the state lost a congressional seat during redistricting and the two incumbent congressmen were pitted together in Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District in the 1992 general election.

Iowa Democratic Party Announces 2012 Caucus Team : Iowa Democratic ...

DES MOINES – The Iowa Democratic Party (IDP) has announced its 2012 caucus team for the First in the Nation Iowa Caucuses. This dedicated team will be responsible for executing strong organizing and messaging efforts across the state to build the foundation for Democratic victories at all levels in 2012.

Chairwoman Sue Dvorsky announced Caucus Director Brendan Summers, Field Director Dena Gleason, Communications Director Sam Roecker, Press Secretary Megan Jacobs, and Information & Technology Director Micah Honeycutt, as the 2012 caucus team.

“As First in the Nation, it is our duty to run an aggressive organizing and messaging effort centered around the Iowa Caucuses,” said Dvorsky. “This team is experienced and ready to do just that.”

Caucus Director Brendan Summers served as the Caucus to Convention Director for the IDP in 2008 and returned to the party last year as Convention Director. Prior to joining the IDP as Field Director in 2009, Dena Gleason served as Deputy Field Director for SEIU’s Change That Works campaign, Regional Field Director for President Obama’s general election campaign, and Field Organizer for Obama for America during the 2007-2008 Iowa Caucus campaign.

With increasing attention on the 2012 presidential candidates, the IDP communications department is also expanding, adding Megan Jacobs as Press Secretary.  In 2010 Jacobs served as the Communications Director for Congressman Chet Edwards’ (D-TX) reelection campaign and previously worked on the rapid response team at the Democratic National Committee and in the paid media department of the 2008 Obama campaign.  She joins Communications Director Sam Roecker, hired in June.

Micah Honeycutt will continue in his role as Information Technology Director for the IDP through the 2012 caucus. Prior to joining the IDP, he traveled across the country as a Data Manager for the Clinton campaign and served as the Midwest Data Lead for the Obama campaign during the 2008 cycle.

“Iowa will once again kickoff the presidential campaign and show the nation that Democrats are ready to reelect President Obama in 2012,” added Dvorsky.

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