Pence to headline GOP picnic July 24

U.S. Rep. Mike Pence, the third-ranking Republican in the U.S. House, will headline a July 24 six-county GOP family picnic later this month in Linn County as part of a visit to Iowa that is fueling speculation the Indiana conservative is considering a 2012 bid for president.

The picnic will begin at 5:30 p.m. July 24 at Palisades-Kepler State Park Lodge near Mount Vernon. It's sponsored by the Republican Party of Iowa and Linn County Republican Party with participation from the GOP in  Benton, Cedar, Iowa, Johnson and Jones counties.

In Cedar Rapids, Pence, who serves as the Chairman of the House GOP Conference, plans to view flood damage, recovery efforts, and to meet with residents and small business owners who survived the June 2008 flood.

"This multi-county event is yet another example of Republican efforts to partner with one another and bring our message of economic growth and opportunity to Iowa families around the state," SAID Iowa GOP Chairman Matt Strawn. "Pence is a champion of the values embodied in our families and will talk about his principled conservative solutions to the problems faced around our state's kitchen tables each and every day."

The picnic will include numerous games and activities for children, a full picnic meal, and a short program featuring Pence and Strawn.

 In addition, all Republican gubernatorial candidates who have filed organizational papers will be invited to attend and bring their campaigns to mix and mingle with the anticipated crowd of hundreds of Iowans and their families.

 Cost for the event is $20 per person or $30 for an entire family (which includes meal).  To purchase tickets, RSVP or receive more details, please call Dawn Brown at (319)533-2289 or email

dbrown@cedar-rapids.net.