GOP picks Flood in SD 34

If you weren't punctual, you might have missed the Republican nominating convention in state Senate District 34 Monday night. It started at 7 p.m. I was pulling out of the Marion Library parking lot at 7:18.

It doesn't take long when you've got just one candidate. Ryan Flood won on a voice vote of the 21 delegates who showed. His nomination speech was just north of three minutes.

The young, first-time candidate, a 2005 graduate of Linn-Mar High School, was clearly nervous as he began his talk by promising to promote conservative ideas and values.

"And I'll promote those ideas in Washington on your behalf," Flood said, sparking a few laughs and a little good-natured ribbing about accidentally revealing his future ambitions. He quickly course corrected and turned back toward Des Moines.

He vowed to improve the state's business climate by cutting taxes and "red tape," with hopes of persuading more young people to stay in Iowa. He vowed to fight for Second Amendment freedoms and other individual rights. "We don't need legislators to tell us how to live," he said. By my count, Flood mentioned his Democratic opponent, Sen. Liz Mathis, just once.

Flood was standing before this convention because the party's previous nominee, Randi Shannon, dropped out of the race to join an alternative "lawful" form of government as a United States senator. Flood was Shannon's campaign chairman, so I asked him what he made of that curious development. He said he didn't realize Shannon had listed him as her chairman until he saw it reported in the media.

"I was working at the time down in Texas for another group. And she called me and asked me if I'd come and help her out. I told her I'd come and help any way I could," Flood said. "I came back and we didn't even get the ball rolling before she decided not to run. I didn't hear about anyone else running. And I didn't want it to be a free race, so I decided to step up and run against Liz Mathis."

What do you think about the alternative government she joined?

"I don't agree with that at all," Flood said. "I don't agree with the whole thing. I'd rather change the government that we have instead of trying to throw the baby out with the bathwater and start with a whole new one...I think that anything we need to accomplish we can do within the current boundaries."

Always good to see some new blood in Iowa politics, although Flood faces a steep climb. He's getting a late start against a well-known incumbent.

"My focus is really on the ground game. Meet the voters. Get some one-on-one time. Make connections with people and hear what their concerns are," said Flood, who grew up in Marion. "I feel like I have a pretty good knowledge of the area and the people."