Friends in Adel, Zaun’s hire, and casino stalking
Here’s proving that politics can truly be political — and downright weird — at any level. At our neighbors to the west, Lori Belgarde has been a deputy to Dallas County Recorder Cindy Hol for the past 10 years. Hol, the current and 20-year Democrat Recorder, is Belgarde’s boss. They are also, Skinny hears, very good friends. Skinny’s in-the-know Dallas County correspondent says Belgarde switched parties to run as a Republican so the GOP would not field a candidate. Belgarde’s name is all over Hol’s disclosures we received from four years ago, yet she has not publicly mentioned why she switched parties or is pitting herself against her boss, leaving some to wonder if the only reason both she and Hol are running is to keep their jobs in what could be a big year for Republicans. Then no matter who is elected, they both stay employed. No, this isn’t Cook County, Chicago. It’s Dallas County, Adel. …
“I’ve got some good news to share with you,” Chet Culver told key Democrats in a series of phone calls over the weekend. The “good news?” He had fired another campaign manager. This time, Abby Curran was thrown under the bus to make room for Donn Stanley, an assistant attorney general and seasoned Democratic operative. Stanley has worked for Tom Harkin and worked for Culver when he was Secretary of State. As for Curran, who was in the job for just a few months, she’s heading, jobless, for Washington. “She’s been a great leader for us. Her professionalism, dedication and work ethic has been deeply appreciated,” Culver said in a statement. Well, shallowly appreciated, perhaps.
If it’s good news when an aide quits, then Culver had more good news recently when press assistant Erin Seidler quietly left the other day. She, too, left without a job, though Skinny hears she actually resigned and wasn’t forced out. ...
Shar Pardubksy served as Senior Vice President of Affiliate Relations at the Greater Des Moines Partnership for more years than Skinny can count. She was known, at times, to be outspoken and abrasive, even a bit cranky. She could also be kind hearted and sincere, and she continually worked for the best interests of those she served. When she was squeezed out by the Partnership about a year ago, many were shocked. The Partnership was going through other changes at the time, including an increase in dues from the affiliates (a fancy name for the suburban chambers of commerce that the Partnership needs). And with Pardubsky serving as the liaison from the affiliates to the Partnership, some chamber execs in the ’burbs told Skinny they felt they were stuck paying more and getting less. One of those who spoke loudly in support of Pardubsky was Brad Zaun, a state senator representing all of Urbandale and portions of northwest Des Moines. Zaun, while he still has some cash, is running for the Republican seat in Congress to take on Leonard Boswell in Iowa’s 3rd District. Pardubsky found a home in Zaun’s campaign, we hear, and will certainly help with her aggressive approach and list of contacts for potential donors. …
The announcement that Glen Oaks Country Club will be sold at public auction at month’s end didn’t shock many. Skinny reported on the concern months ago. Neighbors, we are told, are now “living in fear” as the gated community may no longer provide the security and privacy that many residents desired when purchasing homes there. One resident tells Skinny that he won’t be changing his locks. “Living in fear in West Des Moines? Come on. This is Iowa.” Even so, Skinny offers a solution: Show up at the Polk County Sheriff’s sale at 10 a.m. on April 29 with a check for $8.3 million, and the problem should be taken care of. …
The five members of the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission took a road trip on April 7 to view proposed sites of three new casinos in Fort Dodge, Tama and Ottumwa. This week they will visit Lyon County. The five commissioners and three or four staff members boarded a large tour bus at the Stoney Creek Inn in Johnston at 7:50 a.m. One observer asks Skinny, “Why did less than 10 people need a 40-passenger bus? What’s wrong with a van?”
Skinny’s highly knowledgeable and highly paid Fort Dodge correspondent said the arrival there was met by at least 300 people, and seven chartered busses were parked nearby. He described the scene: “The St. Edmond’s Catholic High School band provided music. Each commissioner was transported to the program area by a golf cart with his/her name on it. The weather was cold and damp. A cold north wind blew creating a below freezing wind chill. The speeches were mercifully short. The commissioners were off the damp ground on an elevated platform. The field in front of them had flags denoting the locations of the proposed casino, outdoor arena and hotel. Prominent in the audience were Representative Helen Miler and former Attorney General Bonnie Campbell, a lawyer for casino interests. After the program, I walked by a dozen people protesting the construction of a casino. After turning my car around, I found myself behind the Commission’s bus. So I followed it to Highway 30 near Ames. Instead of turning east toward Tama, it went west and parked behind a Kum and Go convenience store off Dayton Avenue. The occupants got out for a pit stop. I observed food being delivered by Hickory Park Restaurant from Ames. They apparently lunched in the bus.
“I decided to proceed to Tama. I had no idea where the ceremonies would take place so I went to the Tama library to inquire. An employee told me that the populace was instructed not to attend the presentation; it was just for gambling interests.” Skinny’s correspondent doesn’t follow orders very well and proceeded anyway.
“There was an indoor presentation at the community center,” he continued. “Then the commissioners were transported to the site via private cars. The gravel roads were too soft to accommodate a bus. The library employee told me to go north from Highway 30 on Highway 63, turn east on Airport Road and then south on “L” Street. At the end of “L” street was a “road closed” sign that had been pulled back. I drove up a steep hill. From the summit, I could see the unfinished Highway 30 bypass and the farm land destined to host a casino. Afraid of getting stuck, I backed down the hill and turned around…”
Having seen enough, our correspondent (or whatever you want to call him) decided to retreat to the Mesquaki Casino for some gambling. “I won enough to pay for my gas,” he shared. “On the way home I wondered why the state of Iowa paid two consulting firms the big bucks to study gambling in Iowa. Both firms came to the same conclusion: The gambling market in Iowa is saturated.”
Still, the casino interests are spending big bucks on plans and land options, betting that the commission will grant them a license. Skinny thinks a better bet would be to buy Glen Oaks. CV
