| After a few months of exploring the possibility, Francis Thicke is ready to announce his candidacy for Iowa Secretary of Agriculture in 2010. He's scheduled press conferences in Cedar Rapids, Des Moines and Ottumwa on September 9.
Thicke's campaign website outlines his "new vision for Iowa agriculture," which involves more local food production, on-farm energy production, and "animal production systems that are profitable, environmentally sound, and socially responsible."
You can see from his bio how qualified he is for the position as an organic dairy farmer, educator and public servant.
There's also a blog on the campaign website; recent posts include this endorsement from Denise O'Brien, founder of the Women, Food and Agriculture Network and Democratic nominee for Iowa Secretary of Agriculture in 2006.
Thicke will be an underdog against incumbent Bill Northey, who after considering a bid for governor announced this summer that he'll run for re-election instead. Industrial agriculture interests generously funded Northey's 2006 campaign and will fight hard against Thicke. If you can afford to contribute to Thicke's campaign, his ActBlue page is here.
In case anyone's wondering, the name is pronounced "Tic-kee." |
