Why I am Giving to the Fairness Fund
Dear Equality Supporter,
We’re facing a critical moment for equality here in Iowa. By now, many of you know that Democratic Senator Swati Dandekar (D-18) resigned, leaving her seat open for a special election on November 8th.
The outcome of this election could determine who controls the Iowa State Senate and with it, the fate of marriage for gay and lesbian Iowans. If we lose, we could see the first of two required legislative votes on a constitutional amendment, beginning a process that could have marriage up for a vote of the people as early as June 2013.
Will you join me in protecting equality on Election Day?
I have dedicated my life to fighting for equality for Iowans both in the court and in our communities. I have been doing this long enough to know that we cannot afford to sit this one out. There is too much at stake. I’m giving to One Iowa Fairness Fund PAC because equality needs to be protected. Please, join me in protecting Iowa’s families and our pro-equality leaders by making a commitment of $500 for the One Iowa Fairness Fund.
Your money will be put to good use. 11,000 voters have to be contacted in the next 20 days. That is nearly 500 doors knocked, phone calls made, and ballots returned each day. This is a critical moment for marriage equality here in the state. I am giving to the One Iowa Fairness Fund so that on November 9th I won’t look back on this election and regret not doing more to protect marriage equality, because while the race may be over on November 8th, the task of protecting equality will continue.
Our opponents will stop at nothing to take away rights from gay and lesbian Iowans. And they are at it again in this election. The National Organization for Marriage is joining the Family Research Council and Bob Vander Plaats to bring their so-called “Values Voters Bus Tour” to Linn County on November 6th, just two days before the special election. It is clear that these groups are coming here to promote their message of intolerance and influence the outcome of this election.
We can and will beat their rhetoric. We have a strong candidate with Liz Mathis and a winning strategy for Election Day. We also have a record of ensuring fair-minded officials win, playing a decisive role in several key elections over the last three years – including winning a special election two years ago where the National Organization for Marriage outspent us 9 to 1.
Please join me. Thank you.
Onward,
Sharon Malheiro
Iowa Senate vote could re-spark gay marriage issue
October 13, 2011
The Daily Iowan
Local groups are worried that, in Iowa, the right to legally express the love that binds two people is at risk of being broken.
Democrats in Iowa — a state that legalized same-sex marriage in 2009 in a state Supreme Court decision — have been losing control of the Senate, with their numbers dropping from 27-22 to 26-24 in the November 2010 elections. After Sen. Swati Dandekar, D-Marion, announced in September that she was resigning, Democrats are at risk of losing control completely.
“If this does happen, if we were to lose that race, certainly it makes the chances of us seeing a Constitutional amendment passed through the Senate much more likely,” said Troy Price, the executive director of One Iowa, the state’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender advocacy group. “And should that happen, if it is able to pass in the next legislative session, as early as June 2013 you could see it on the ballot.”
The open seat in District 18 — which is almost evenly split between registered Republicans and Democrats — is going to go to either Democrat Liz Mathis or Republican Cindy Golding.
Will the mud fly in Iowa Senate 18 race?
Because vote could tip power balance, it’s expected to attract national special-interest groups
James Q Lynch
October 9, 2011
The Cedar Rapids Gazette
(Liz Martin/The Gazette)
There could be mud.
“I hope it’s a civil and intelligent discussion and people have an opportunity to explain their positions and people vote
for the candidate that best suits their personal interests,” Ken Sagar, president of the Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO, said about the Nov. 8 special election in Linn County that could change the balance of power in the Iowa Senate. “That’s the way it’s supposed to work.”
Right now, the Democrats have a 26 to 24 majority in the Senate that they’d like to hold. The Republicans, who control the Iowa House and the governor’s office, are aiming for a 25-25 sharing of power.
Special elections for Iowa legislative seats have a history of being intense, expensive and often nasty. Folks on both sides of the Senate 18 race say they’re looking for fair, clean, high-minded
campaigns — unless the other side goes negative.
(Liz Martin/The Gazette)
“Nasty? It certainly has that potential,” said Troy Price, executive director of One Iowa, the state’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender
advocacy organization. He’s also predicted the race will be the most expensive in Iowa history — a point on which there is considerably more agreement than whether the race will be a lesson in civil political discourse.
Some estimate as much as $1 million could be spent on the race for a job that pays $25,000 a year.
Click here to read the article from The Cedar Rapids Gazette
Opinion: Mathis will fight for education, children
October 10, 2011
Cedar Rapids Gazette
Liz Mathis (Senate 18 candidate) cares deeply about children. As a longtime educator in our area, I am acutely aware of the needs of students. Education is one of the main issues concerning Mathis. Funding cuts for schools will be detrimental to the young people.
As a teacher, I am aware that my passion alone will not educate our children. Mathis knows that underfunding, teacher layoffs and cutting programs will not allow teachers to do their jobs properly.
Mathis will fight for ample support to make schools in our community as excellent as possible.
A vote for Liz Mathis on Nov. 8 is a vote for our children.
Helane Golden
Cedar Rapids
Opinion: ‘Entitlements’ protect elderly, disabled
October 10, 2011
Cedar Rapids Gazette
I attended a meeting on the redesign of mental health and disability services for Iowa (S.F. 525). My daughter, Brook, who has Down’s Syndrome, is 50 years old. There are 120 other disabled people in Linn County her age. Many have the same condition and are predisposed to getting Alzheimers. Where will they go for care?
I am 77 with all the aches and pains most elderly get. I went to the meeting and left overwhelmed. At my age, I cannot help work out these problems. Some people in government refer to people like my daughter and me as entitlements (with sarcasm). Brook is on Medicare and Medicaid; I am on Social Security and Medicare. Some politicians say “let us die if we can’t pay.”
My daughter met Michelle Obama. She was warm and kind. I’m certain her husband is the same. He will get my vote as will Liz Mathis for state Senate. If you or your family have disabilities, jump in and help and speak up. As an older parent, we worked for preschools, work shops, group homes, respite care, assistance for infants and special education. Get involved because children turn to adults, adults to the elderly, and little problems become much larger ones.
Janet Wagner
Cedar Rapids
Iowa Senate vote could re-spark gay marriage issue
October 11, 2011
The Press Citizen
Local groups are worried that, in Iowa, the right to legally express the love that binds two people is at risk of being broken.
Democrats in Iowa — a state that legalized same-sex marriage in 2009 in a state Supreme Court decision — have been losing control of the Senate, with their numbers dropping from 27-22 to 26-24 in the November 2010 elections. After Sen. Swati Dandekar, D-Marion, announced in September that she was resigning, Democrats are at risk of losing control completely.
“If this does happen, if we were to lose that race, certainly it makes the chances of us seeing a Constitutional amendment passed through the Senate much more likely,” said Troy Price, the executive director of One Iowa, the state’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender advocacy group. “And should that happen, if it is able to pass in the next legislative session, as early as June 2013 you could see it on the ballot.”
The open seat in District 18 — which is almost evenly split between registered Republicans and Democrats — is going to go to either Democrat Liz Mathis or Republican Cindy Golding.
Don McDowell, a Golding spokesman, would not specify whether the candidate was for or against gay marriage but did say she wants Iowans to have a voice on the matter.
“I think we saw last November Iowans were very frustrated they hadn’t had a chance to weigh in,” he said, referring to the ousting of three Iowa Supreme Court justices. “[Golding] believes fundamentally Iowans should be the final arbiters; she would vote to give Iowans a chance to have a say.”
Golding is Instant Lame Duck
October 10, 2011
The Des Moines Register
It takes a special alignment of stars to be a lame duck from the day you are elected. Shelley Sekula Gibbs did it by winning a special election on the same day she lost a general election in 2006. Neil Abercrombie did it by winning a special election and losing a primary on the same day in 1986.
But neither of them pulled off the trick of being a lame duck before even winning an election, so Cindy Golding is by my count the first.
Marriage Equality: Where the Candidates Stand
CINDY GOLDING
Republican Cindy Golding has voiced her support for letting the rights of Iowans go up for a popular vote. Golding says “I think it’s something that the citizens of the state ought to vote on,” “There has been a clamoring across the state to just have a voice. And I think, you know, which ever way it goes, the people ought to decide.”
9/28/11, IowaPolitics.com
LIZ MATHIS
Democrat Liz Mathis has said that she supports the 2009 Supreme Court decision that ruled in favor of marriage equality for gay and lesbian Iowans. “As most Iowans, I support the judges upholding the constitution. I believe that we just need to keep focusing on businesses, the economy, and jobs.”
9/28/11, IowaPolitics.com
Donate Now to Help Elect Democrat Senate Candidate Liz Mathis
Click here to donate now: www.bit.ly/FairnessFundPAC
Earlier this week, Liz Mathis kicked off her campaign for the open seat in Senate District 18. She has launched a website with more information about her campaign and ways you can get involved to support her in SD 18.
Liz will be a strong voice for eastern Iowa where she spent more than 25 years as a news anchor, asking the tough questions to elected officials on both sides of the aisle.
Visit her website here for more information: http://mathis4statesenate.com/
Consider a donation to the Fairness Fund to help elect Liz Mathis as a fair minded leader in the Iowa state senate: www.bit.ly/FairnessFundPAC
