Consider caucusing as a Republican

I am a Republican because ...

I believe the strength of the nation lies with the individual and that each person's dignity, freedom, ability and responsibility must be honored.

I believe in equal rights, equal justice and equal opportunity for all.

I believe our Constitution provides limits to government power, explicitly details our fundamental rights and insures that only the enumerated powers contained within the Constitution are executed by the federal government. All other functions of government are left to the state and local governments.

I believe free enterprise and encouraging individual initiative have brought this nation opportunity, economic growth and prosperity.

I believe government must practice fiscal responsibility and allow individuals to keep more of the money they earn.

I believe the proper role of government is to provide for the people only those critical functions that cannot be performed by individuals or private organizations. The best government is that which governs least.

I believe America's greatness comes from God, freedom and free enterprise, and we should honor those who have served to protect and defend the United States of America.

Finally, I believe the Republican Party is the best vehicle for translating these ideas into positive and successful principles of government.

For months the Republican presidential candidates have been conducting events and meeting people. On Feb. 1 Republicans will join together and meet to hear one final plea before conducting a presidential preference poll. The presidential preference poll will winnow the list of candidates going forward.

The final phase of the Republican first-in-the-nation caucus will happen in 23 sites across Linn County where Republicans will meet in 86 precinct caucuses. The objective of the caucus is much more than just a presidential preference poll. The caucus will elect precinct committee people from each precinct who are the backbone of the party. They will work through the year to bring the Republican message to their friends and neighbors in their precincts. Republicans will elect delegates to the county convention and gather platform resolutions.

At the county convention delegates will conduct the next steps in the Republican Party process. They will elect delegates to the district and state conventions and develop a county platform based on the resolutions gathered from the 86 precinct caucuses. Ultimately the state convention will elect delegates who will attend the Republican Party convention where a presidential candidate will be nominated.

If you want to have an opportunity to work on the inside rather than the outside, come and join the Republican caucus. Anyone who will be 18 before the presidential election in November can register as a Republican and participate. Teenagers are welcomed as junior delegates. Look up your caucus site on our website, LinnCountyGOP.org. You can also find your caucus location at LinnCountyElection.org/caucus.

We have a president who doesn't meet with Congressional leaders, doesn't put forward specific legislative proposals and then points his finger at Congress. We find ourselves with a growing terrorist threat in ISIS, trillions in federal debt, a weak economy with no jobs, rampant illegal immigration and a failing and expensive health care system. Are you better off?

Lets get together and send someone new to the White House.

' Gary Ellis, of Cedar Rapids, is secretary of the Linn County Republican Central Committee. Comments: secretary@linncountygop.org