With a message of empowerment for voters and business owners, Deidre DeJear of Des Moines, Democrat candidate for Iowa Secretary of State, met about 25 Perry-area voters Thursday evening in a meet and greet at La Poste.
“The only thing standing between us and success is us,” DeJear said, discussing low voter turnout in Iowa primaries and municipal elections. She said only 13 percent of Iowa’s 1.9 million registred voters cast ballots in last June’s primaries.
“We can do better,” she said. “We can get people excited and engaged.”
DeJear said communication is crucial to increasing voter participation. She favors automatic voter registration at state motor vehicle departments, made legal with the National Voter Registration Act of 1993.
Along with overseeing elections, the Iowa Secretary of State’s office also maintains the registry of business entities in the state. DeJear said the office should work to connect small businesses with resources that can help them grow.
A sprinkling of Democrat candidates for other state and local offices were in the audience for DeJear’s speech, and some gave testimonials to her fitness for the Iowa Secretary of State position. Karen Varley, wife of Iowa House District 19 candidate Warren Varley, praised DeJear and David Weaver of Rippey, Iowa House District 47 candidate, spoke to her ability to electrify a crowd.
Also present in support of DeJear were Dawson Mayor Breanna Morman, who is seeking the district one seat on the Dallas County Board of Supervisors, and Patricia Stalter of Adel, who is vying for the district three Supervisor’s seat.
