Northwest Iowa — Rallies are being held in the KIWA listening area this week by the Democrat who hopes to win the Iowa 4th District U.S. House of Representatives seat this November.
J.D. Scholten and his motorhome he’s named Sioux City Sue, have been in the area to hold what he’s calling “Parking Lot Rallies” in the various northwest Iowa counties. KIWA talked to Scholten, and asked him about those “Parking Lot Rallies.”
(As above) “We decided to do what we call the ‘Everytown Tour’ where were going to all 375 incorporated towns in the district. It’s just a way to get out there, connect with people, meet people where they’re at. We try to do parking lot rallies, and so the parking lot rallies are a way for people, if they want to stay in their cars, tune into a (radio) frequency and we’ll broadcast up to 300 feet, so we’re not threatening any radio stations or anything like that. (chuckles) It’s a lot of what church services have kind of turned to, at least down in my neck of the woods, in Sioux City a lot of them have done. And so, I get back on a pickup truck, on the back side of it, I give my spiel and answer any questions. And so our campaign has been, since last cycle and this cycle, it’s about getting out there to the people, and continue do it, even though in the time of COVID we’ve got to do it a little bit more safe.”
We asked Scholten about the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), and the refinery waivers that have been issued, directly affecting northwest Iowa farmers.
(As above) “The abuse of the Renewable Fuels Standard is an absolute shame. That is the law. And 15 billion gallons is the mandate, and if we’re not hitting that it’s going against the law.”
Scholten also talked about one important issue that he says crosses party lines.
(As above) “One of the biggest things I’m running on…and it’s something I’ve been able to talk to everybody about…this is not a Democratic issue, it’s not a Republican issue , it’s an issue that’s been failed by both parties for decades, and that’s market consolidation. We have agricultural monopolies that are squeezing our farmers out, and they’re squeezing our middle sized producers. We have these huge packers, and during this time of COVID, we really see that consumers are paying the most they ever have for meat, the workers in Sioux City at the meat packing plants are getting the same wages as when I was born in 1980, and on the other side is farmers getting squeezed. And so, what my campaign is about is building this coalition of consumers, workers and farmers, working together, and we’ve got to get on the right side of this.”
In the 2018 general election Scholten narrowly lost to incumbent Republican Steve King, who lost the 2020 Republican primary to State Senator Randy Feenstra. We asked Scholten what adjustments he made to his campaign to face Feenstra instead of King.
(As above) “It doesn’t change a thing for us because we talk about what we’re for. At our rallies, and then if you meet me in person lately, you’ll get offered a baseball card and on the back of the baseball card I have five campaign promises. It has nothing to do with anybody who I’m running against and everything to do with about this district.”
Scholten says his five campaign promises are: 1) Iowa Over Politics; 2) Always Show Up; 3) Fix Healthcare; 4) Fight For An Economy That Works For Everyone; and 5) Secure Our Democracy From Special Interests.
Scholten is a former professional baseball player and paralegal who resides in Sioux City.
