Edwards Campaign Press Release - Edwards Iowa Campaign Announces 99 County Chairs

Edwards Campaign First In Iowa to Announce Chairs in Every County in State

Waterloo, Iowa – As Elizabeth Edwards visited Iowa for the grand opening of the campaign's Waterloo office, the John Edwards for President campaign today announced that it has signed up county chairs for all 99 Iowa counties.

The Edwards campaign becomes the first campaign—Democratic or Republican —to announce county chairs for each of Iowa's 99 counties. These chairs—including elected officials, educators and influential business and community leaders—will work to organize their county for Senator Edwards and spread the word about his detailed and specific plans, from ending the war in Iraq to guaranteeing health care for every American.

In April, Edwards announced that the campaign had signed up a rural chairperson in all 99 counties to focus specifically on organizing the rural portions of every county. The county chairs announced today will work with the rural county chairs and others throughout their county to mobilize support for Senator Edwards.

The announcement comes just days before Senator Edwards will visit Iowa to discuss his plans to end the war in Iraq, pass truly universal health care and revitalize the economy of small towns across America. Mrs. Edwards return to Iowa to accompany him for several stops during the three-day campaign swing.

"All of us—right here in Iowa and across the country—need to take action to start changing our country today," Senator Edwards said. "I appreciate the support of the many business, civic and community leaders who have agreed to lead our campaign effort in every Iowa county. They will also advise me on the issues that matter to Iowans -- because I believe it's time America had a president who put the concerns of everyday Americans first."

"John and Elizabeth Edwards understand the challenges that regular Iowans face—from paying the health care bill to sending your kid to college," said Joy Lowe, a county coordinator for Black Hawk County. "But even more importantly, Senator Edwards is the candidate with the best and most specific ideas about how to help families in Iowa, as well as to end the war and improve our standing in the world. I'm honored to be part of this campaign because I believe he's not only our best candidate, but he'll make a great president who can deliver for Iowa families."

Edwards' 99 County Chairs are:

John Edwards for President

Iowa County Chairs and Co-Chairs

Linda Madison, Adair, Adair

Pat Kennedy, Corning, Adams

Toni Kolsrud, Waterville, Allamakee

Judith Engle, Waukon, Allamakee

Justine Heffron, Centerville, Appanoose

Debbie Kury, Centerville, Appanoose

Alan Smalley, Audubon, Audubon

Peggy Smalley, Audubon County Treasurer, Audubon, Audubon

Rosemary Schwartz, Former Benton County Democratic Party Central Committee Chair, Vinton, Benton

Joy Lowe, Former Black Hawk County Democratic Party Central Committee Vice Chair, Waterloo, Black Hawk

Russ Lowe, Waterloo, Black Hawk

Marilyn Jordan, Boone, Boone

Georgia Robertson, Boone County Democratic Party Central Committee Co-Chair, Boone, Boone

Peg Dunbar, Former Bremer County Democratic Party Central Committee Chair, Waverly, Bremer

Richard MacHacek, Iowa Democratic Party State Central Committee Member, Winthrop, Buchanan

Michelle Ficken, Independence, Buchanan

Eugene Ficken, Independence, Buchanan

Juanita Hamilton, Storm Lake, Buena Vista

Willis Hamilton, Storm Lake, Buena Vista

Rod Baker, Parkersburg, Butler

Susie Baker, Parkersburg, Butler

Colin McCullough, Rockwell City, Calhoun

Bill Clinton, Carroll, Carroll

William Kennedy, Anita, Cass

Mary Sesker, Tipton, Cedar

Patricia Furchtenicht, West Branch, Cedar

Pat Steinfort, Mason City, Cerro Gordo

Chris Petersen, Iowa Farmer's Union President, Clear Lake, Cerro Gordo

Janet Sundberg, Cherokee, Cherokee

Pat Wegman, Chickasaw County Attorney, New Hampton, Chickasaw

Stephen Waterman, Osceola, Clarke

Bill O'Hearn, Spencer, Clay

Brenda Gibbs, Garnavillo, Clayton

Highland Nichols, Clinton, Clinton

Les Lewis, Former Crawford County Democratic Party Central Committee Chair, Denison, Crawford

Kay Nelson, Dow City, Crawford

Daniel Spellman Sr, Perry, Dallas

Karen Miller, West Des Moines, Dallas

Kurt Swaim, State Representative, Bloomfield, Davis

Marie McBroom, Decatur, Decatur

Judy McMahon, Manchester, Delaware

Mike McMahon, Manchester, Delaware

Sandy Dockendorff, Danville, Des Moines

Jeannette Kline, President of Burlington Iowa State Education Association Chapter, Burlington, Des Moines

Greg Stevens, Former State Representative, Milford, Dickinson

Becky Sisco, Dubuque, Dubuque

Don Brown, Estherville, Emmet

Peggy Sherrets, Oelwein, Fayette

Loyd Johnson, Nashua, Floyd

Renee Bultman, Hampton, Franklin

Steve Mac Donald, Fremont County Sheriff, Farragut, Fremont

Alis Martin, Grand Junction, Greene

Peggy Husmann, Morrison, Grundy

Rose Edwards, Stuart, Guthrie

Janet Adams, Webster City City Councilwoman, Former State Representative, Former Webster County Democratic Party Central Committee Chair, Webster City, Hamilton

Jim Devine, Corwith, Hancock

Sue Seedorff-Keninger, Ackley, Hardin

Mike Vittitoe, Missouri Valley, Harrison

Mickey Dingman, New London, Henry

Jerry Dingman, Henry County Democratic Party Central Committee Vice Chair, New London, Henry

Cathy Helman, Salem, Henry

David Helman, Henry County Democratic Party Central Committee Chair, Salem, Henry

Matt Malek, Howard County Democratic Party Central Committee Co-Chair, Cresco, Howard

Barb Zabel, Humboldt, Humboldt

Mike Zabel, Humboldt, Humboldt

Phyllis Groth, Battle Creek, Ida

Jamie Whitmer, Holstein, Ida

Tammy Kesterson, Iowa Democratic Party State Central Committee Member, Marengo, Iowa

Jane Dubert, Maquoketa, Jackson

Daniel Kelley, Jasper County Democratic Party Central Committee Vice Chair, Newton, Jasper

Jo Ann Crouch, Fairfield, Jefferson

Terrence Neuzil, Johnson County Supervisor, Iowa City, Johnson

David Redlawsk, University of Iowa Professor, Iowa City, Johnson

Victoria Tapken, Anamosa, Jones

Ron George, Keokuk County Sheriff, Keswick, Keokuk

Dennis McGuire, Algona, Kossuth

Sandy Chapman, Former Lee County Democratic Party Central Committee Chair, Fort Madison, Lee

Bob Jury, Farmington, Lee

Ernie Schiller, Lee County Supervisor, Donnellson, Lee

Donald Zeller, Linn County Sheriff, Palo, Linn

Lauri Lumm-Usher, Marion, Linn

Joel Miller, Linn County Auditor, Robins, Linn

Trish Schaefer, Former Mayor, Morning Sun, Louisa

Franklin Best, Former Mayor, Columbus City, Louisa

Joan Amos, Chariton, Lucas

Ron Scholten, Larchwood, Lyon

Joyce Kooker, Winterset, Madison

Cynthia Drost, Former Mahaska County Recorder, New Sharon, Mahaska

Pat Sodak, Oskaloosa, Mahaska

Maureen Nichols, Knoxville, Marion

Sara Hansen, Marshalltown, Marshall

Carol Crawford, Glenwood, Mills

Elaine Smolik, Osage, Mitchell

Bonnie Banks, Mapleton, Monona

Jody Ewing, Iowa Democratic Party State Central Committee Member, Onawa, Monona

Marjorie Demoss, Albia, Monroe

Leland Carmichael, Former Mayor, Former Montgomery County Supervisor, Villisca, Montgomery

Henry Marquard, Iowa Environmental Protection Commission President, Muscatine, Muscatine

Sharon Marquard, Muscatine, Muscatine

Kas Kelly, Muscatine County Supervisor, Muscatine, Muscatine

Marilyn Brubaker, Paullina, O'Brien

Phyllis Vanwyk, Sibley, Osceola

Roberta Farmer, Clarinda, Page

Peter Hart, Palo Alto County Attorney, Emmetsburg, Palo Alto

Ron Stopak, Le Mars, Plymouth

Calista Hammes, Pocahontas, Pocahontas

John Campbell, Union Activist, Steelworker, Des Moines, Polk

Thomas Fisher, Former State Representative Candidate, Des Moines, Polk

Barbara Miller, West Des Moines, Polk

Dennis Anderson, Polk County Sheriff, Des Moines, Polk

Dean Jennings, Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie

Pamela Wilson, Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie

Ellie Snook, Poweshiek County Supervisor, Montezuma, Poweshiek

Jim Uhlenkamp, Former Ringgold County Democratic Party Central Committee Chair, Mount Ayr, Ringgold

Russ Hass, Sac City, Sac

Ann Hutchinson, Former Mayor, Bettendorf, Scott

Beverly Strayhall, Davenport, Scott

Roger Butts, Reverend, Davenport, Scott

Mel Clothier, Harlan, Shelby

Michelle Vanwyk, Ireton, Sioux

Sande McNabb, Ames, Story

Lynne Baltzer, Ames, Story

Dori Rammelsberg-Dvorak, Iowa Democratic Party Secretary, Tama County Democratic Party Central Committee Chair, Clutier, Tama

Pam King, Bedford, Taylor

Jan Knock, Creston, Union

Lori Hays, Creston, Union

Todd Wolverton, Creston, Union

Vicki Shepard, Van Buren County Democratic Party Central Committee, Keosauqua, Van Buren

Dave McMillin, Ottumwa, Wapello

Sally Steffen, Former Wapello County Supervisor, Ottumwa, Wapello

Ray Walton, Indianola, Warren

Joshua Brown, Indianola, Warren

Jo-Ann Zager, Brighton, Washington

William Gode, Corydon, Wayne

Char Gustufson, Fort Dodge, Webster

Roger Olien, Scarville, Winnebago

Lyle Otte, Former Winneshiek County Democratic Party Central Committee Secretary, Decorah, Winneshiek

Georgie Klevar, Winneshiek County Democratic Party Central Committee Vice-Chair, Decorah, Winneshiek

Mac Smith, Sioux City, Woodbury

Connie Richardson Smith, Sioux City, Woodbur

Al Sturgeon, Former State Representative, Former Woodbury County Democratic Party Central Committee Chair, Sioux City, Woodbury

Wayne Estes, Northwood, Worth

Denise Hocraffer, Wright County Democratic Party Central Committee Chair, Clarion, Wright