Former state senator seeking Democratic nomination to face Grassley

CEDAR RAPIDS – Calling Sen. Chuck Grassley “frustrated” and “out of touch,” former State Sen. Tom Fiegen will announce Friday he is seeking the Democratic nomination to challenge the incumbent Republican.

Fiegen, 50, who lives in Clarence and practices bankruptcy law in Cedar Rapids, will launch his primary election campaign from the free speech corner of the Cedar County Courthouse lawn in Tipton. Following that 8 a.m. announcement, he will make appearances at 901 Fremont in Davenport at 10 a.m., Greene Square Park in Cedar Rapids at 1 p.m. and in front of Iowa Workforce Development in Des Moines.

Fiegen believes a second federal stimulus package may be needed and says it's time for the federal government to re-commit to full employment. He's distressed at Grassley's apparent lack of concern with the unemployment rate, which is approaching 10 percent.

Fiegen joins Fairfield Democrat Bob Krause in seeking the party's nomination and says other names have been floated as possible Grassley challengers, so he's proceeding as if there will be a primary in June.

Fiegen, who served one term in the Iowa Senate beginning in 2001, is well aware of the David versus Goliath proportions of his challenge to Grassley. The incumbent, who went to Congress in 1975, is well-financed and has won re-election by wide margins.

He sees an opportunity to upset Grassley because Iowans are finding the Republican's recent statements at odds with his previous political positions. There seems to be a disconnect between Grassley and his Iowa support, Fiegen said.

Fiegen has established a campaign Web site:

www.fiegenforussenate.com.