The youngest candidate in the race for the Republican Party of Iowa's 2010 gubernatorial nomination has lined up campus coordinators at all three of the state-supported universities, plus a few private colleges and three of the 15 community colleges in the state. Christian Fong's campaign released their list of campus coordinators today, August 3, 2009, when campuses are largely empty as summer classes are over and fall classes haven't started. It means Fong may have mined the contact list he collected in his role on the Generation Iowa Commission.
The Jacob Kaufmann who has volunteered to work on Fong's campaign is the son of State Representative Jeff Kaufmann, a Republican from Wilton who is backing another GOP gubernatorial candidate, Rod Roberts. Representative Kaufmann says with the exception of 2008 second district congressional candidate Marianette Miller-Meeks, it's been a long time since he and his son have backed the same candidate in a GOP primary.
Read the Fong campaign news release below:
(Cedar Rapids, IA) The campaign of Iowa gubernatorial candidate and Cedar Rapids businessman Christian Fong (R) released a listing of young Republicans who have agreed to organize their college campuses for 2009 – 2010. Fong college chairs to-date include:
Jason Covey – Iowa State University
Mike Bell - University of Northern Iowa
Matt Bechstein – University of Iowa
Melanie Nederhoff – Drake University
Joe Pinczer – St. Ambrose University
Ethan Vasser – Upper Iowa University
Amanda Scarboro – Ellsworth Community College
Sara Lewis – William Penn University
Logan Wheeler – Kirkwood Community College
Jacob Kaufmann – Muscatine Community College
Jason Covey, the Iowans for Fong Chair at Iowa State University, said, “After hearing Christian Fong’s conservative, common sense vision for Iowa, there was no doubt he was my choice for Governor. I'm excited to run ‘Cyclones for Fong’ and am confident Christian’s appeal will inspire the conservative youth on campus.”
Marlys Popma, Fong campaign manager, added, “Considering we are several weeks away from classes starting on campuses across Iowa to already have College Chairs in place is a testament to Christian. His ability to inspire Iowa’s youth should not be lost on Iowa Republicans as we look to restore the Republican Party. We’ll continue to work until we have a presence at every university, college and community college in Iowa.”
Christian Fong graduated from Underwood High School in Southwest Iowa at the age of 16 and then attended Creighton University, graduating at age 19. After college, he and his wife, Jenelle, located in Cedar Rapids and Christian started work at AEGON. Fong put his career on hold to attend Dartmouth, earning his MBA. He and his family returned to Cedar Rapids, where they reside today and attend River of Life Ministries church. When the floods of 2008 hit Cedar Rapids, Fong founded and still serves today as the CEO of Corridor Recovery, a non-profit flood relief organization that coordinated recovery efforts. The Fongs have three children.
About O.Kay Henderson
Kay is a founding member of the Radio Iowa network newsroom. In 1994, she became the network’s news director. She’s a featured reporter and commentator on Iowa Public Television’s “Iowa Press,” and the 2002 recipient of the Shelley Award.
Where’s Grinnell on this list? They have the top turnout in the state (as well as being by far the most prestigious school). You’d think Fong would make it a priority to find a campus coordinator there.