Vernon endorsed as best Democrat choice in 1st District

CEDAR RAPIDS - A trio of current and former Democratic elected officials endorsed 1st District House candidate Monica Vernon, praising her grasp of the issues, intensity and proven track record as a leader.

Their endorsements were also meant to send a message to Democrats that they believe the Cedar Rapids City Council member is the best candidate to win back the northeast Iowa congressional seat.

Vernon has 'all the qualities to be a good candidate and win, and more importantly, she's got all the qualities to be a terrific member of Congress,” nine-term Attorney General Tom Miller said at a news conference Thursday in the former council chambers at Veterans Memorial Building in Cedar Rapids.

'This election is about the future of Iowa, future of Cedar Rapids, the future of our country,” State Treasurer Mike Fitzgerald added. 'I know you are a winner.”

Kevin McCarthy, former Iowa House majority leader, said Vernon 'brings a level of intensity to everything she does … always balanced with a level of civility that is desperately needed in Washington.”

Vernon was the first candidate to jump into the race for the Democratic nomination to challenge first-term Republican U.S. Rep. Rod Blum, a Dubuque businessman. Gary Kroeger, a Cedar Falls advertising executive, also is seeking the nomination in the 20-county district. A third candidate, Ravi Patel of Cedar Rapids, dropped out of the race.

There have been persistent rumors that former Speaker of the Iowa House Pat Murphy of Dubuque, who lost to Blum 49.9 percent to 47.6 percent in 2014, is planning to run again. He has not responded to requests for comment.

Vernon's endorsers made clear they believe she's the best choice for 1st District Democrats.

'I think our party needs to start coalescing around her,” said McCarthy, who was majority leader when Murphy was speaker. He rarely endorses candidates and didn't accept endorsements when he was on the ballot.

Miller also acknowledged that getting involved in primaries 'is not the usual practice for me.”

'But sometimes I do,” he said, 'when I think someone is an exceptionally strong candidate that would be a good public official. When there is someone who I think has a better chance to win than others … I will jump in.”

His endorsement wasn't meant to tell anyone not to enter the race.

'But it should be a clear message that for whatever it's worth to the Democrats in this district that I believe strongly that she's our best candidate,” Miller said.