Narcisse for Iowa

Iowans for a Fair Debate: Update

UPDATE: hundreds of petition signatures were collected at Thursday’s ISU Game, and we have big plans to collect many more at events throughout Labor Day Weekend! If you can help please call (770-1218) or e-mail (volunteer@narcisseforiowa.com).

Online Petition – with a long list of testimonials and viral marketing links – at www.DebateIowa.com. Please sign the E-Petition and send e-mails to your friends/relatives/neighbors asking them to sign and e-mail their friends/relatives/neighbors!

Paper Petition – to take around with a clipboard and pen – can be downloaded here.

And don’t forget…. ask all your friends, neighbors, and family that want An Iowa Worth Fighting For, to either donate (click on the button to the right) or CALL AND EMAIL THE MEDIA HOSTING THE DEBATES.

Thank you!

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Independent candidate for Iowa Governor Jonathan Narcisse, running on The Iowa Party ticket, has established a new drive called “Iowans For A Fair Debate.” Narcisse is soliciting support from Iowans to ensure he is included in the three scheduled debates between Governors Culver and Branstad.

“Not the establishment’s proxy”

“We have to include Jonathan in the conversation. He is not the proxy for the establishment Branstad/Culver is. He speaks for Iowans lacking access to our current political system because they can’t afford lobbyists or make big political contributions. Jonathan will speak truth to power and hold entrenched vested interests accountable,” stated longtime Democratic party activist and neighborhood leader Fran Koontz of Des Moines, chairperson for Narcisse For Iowa.

Narcisse generated much attention at the Iowa State Fair where he spent several days meeting and greeting thousands of Iowans personally. He was undefeated in capturing the State Fair Chess Championship, garnered state wide media coverage for his tax and education reform proposals during his “Soap Box” presentation, and surprised pollsters from the Iowa Family Policy Center Action coming in second with 21.3% compared to Culver’s 16%.

“During the debates we will hear both Governors pander. In the end, however, both are funded by the same powerful interests such as the Kirke gambling empire. Both have ignored the abuses of bad citizens like Jack DeCoster, a deriliction of duty that could now cost Iowa its standing in the egg industry. Continue reading Iowans for a Fair Debate: Update

Tax Reform: An Issue for Working Iowans

Learn more about Jonathan Narcisse’s proposals to reform Iowa’s tax system by watching these videos. Have questions or ideas about tax reform or any other issue? Call Jonathan at (515) 770-1218 or send an e-mail to info@narcisseforiowa.com.

More videos describing Jonathan’s positions and ideas are coming. Check out the NarcisseforIowa channel on YouTube.

Narcisse Proposes Tax Break for Hourly Workers, Reform of Property Tax

State Fair Soap Box - Reporters Follow-up after Talk

Speaking at the Des Moines Register’s “Soap Box” at the State Fair on August 20th, Jonathan addressed tax reform issues, including only taxing the first 40 hours of work a week, phasing out the corporate income tax, and basing property taxes on purchase price. A video of his talk is available.

RadioIowa reporter O. Kay Henderson described Jonathan’s talk:

“An independent candidate for governor is proposing a tax break for Iowa workers who are paid by the hour. Jonathan Narcisse says the state should only collect income taxes on 40-hours of work per week, an idea inspired by a recent stop he made at Hardee’s.

“It was about 3:22 a.m. and the young lady who waited on me had to be at her second job at 8 a.m.,” Narcisse says. “Why are we requiring her to pay taxes after 40 hours when she could use that money more than the Google millionaires in Council Bluffs or the Bill Gates’ Microsoft?” Microsoft recently announced it was building a processing center in West Des Moines.

Narcisse outlined his proposal during a speech at The Des Moines Register’s “Soap Box” on the Iowa State Fair. Narcisse told reporters afterwards that the tax break he proposes would not apply to Iowans who earn a salary.

“Every single tax policy isn’t going to necessarily benefit everyone,” Narcisse said. “And I think if we try to keep everybody happy, then we really sometimes just don’t get anything done.”

On other tax issues, Narcisse would phase out the state’s corporate income tax and tie property tax payments to the purchase price of the property rather than the assessed value. He has also proposed lowering the state sales tax to three percent and getting rid of nearly all sales tax exemptions.

Narcisse pondered running against Governor Culver in the June 8 Democratic Primary but opted instead to run in the fall election as an “Iowa Party” candidate.

Narcisse attacked the two-party system during his speech at the State Fair. He also criticized the idea this fall’s election will be a referendum on gay marriage.

“Now I have my views on some of these core issues like marriage and abortion and ethanol, but the time has come for us to retire the era of ‘single issue’ politics in Iowa and to get back to those things that I believe most Iowans care about,” Narcisse said, offering a list: “How are we going to create great schools again? How are we going to have a strong government again? How are we going to create a healthy Iowa? And how are we going to have a strong economy?”

Narcisse told reporters he wants to advance a “solution oriented agenda” and he won’t just focus on “hot button issues” like gay marriage.”

Jonathan Qualifies for the November 2nd ballot

Jonathan Narcisse, an Independent candidate for Governor running on the “Iowa Party” ticket, submitted nominating petitions containing signatures from nearly 1,900 Iowans from 47 counties and was certified to appear on the November ballot by the Secretary of State’s office at close of business August 12, 2010.

The signatures were gathered in ten days. The Narcisse For Iowa campaign started collecting signatures in late June following the announcement of Rick Marlar as Jonathan’s running mate but discovered last week, as we prepared to turn in the signatures, that the Secretary of State had changed the petition form for the gubernatorial race in late July. Rather than risk a challenge by using the previously collected signatures on the wrong petition forms the Narcisse For Iowa campaign started anew.

“The Secretary of State’s office was very gracious and provided our campaign a letter approving use of the old petition forms. I knew, however, our campaign had the organizational strength and human resource power to collect the required signatures and secure support from the number of counties required. The window left open before the filing deadline was never daunting to us. It invigorated our team, especially in light of the skepticism that we could even qualify for the ballot. And it served as an excellent warm up exercise for our official 99 county campaign.”

Narcisse, who is seven counties short of completing his second 99 county circuit has seen a significant amount of grassroots support emerge for his “None of the Above” campaign. “Iowans are not enthusiatic about a sixth Branstad/Culver administration. Despite the two waging the most negative campaign in Iowa’s history an honest examination of their records, practices, policies and contributors confirms the differences between these two men are primarily stylistic not substantive. Neither has offered a concrete plan to address the critical challenges facing our state.” Iowans are looking for positive ideas and common sense solutions. Our campaign’s four pillars are consistent with the values and priorities of Iowans:

Creating accountable, efficient, and transparent government
Restoring a “World Class Plus” educational system
Rebuilding a low tax, free market, prosperous economy
And leading by example the effort to create a healthy Iowa by fighting lifestyle and obesity induced disease

Cityview Newspaper Profiles Jonathan

Cityview, Central Iowa’s Independent Weekly, has a great cover story about Jonathan in the July 29th issue. You can read the article online. The editors’ “What’s Inside” column introduced the Narcisse profile with these very kind words:

“The Dynamics Will Change: Jonathan Narcisse is likeable, not by some in education, we realize, but he is still a good guy. A handful of our readers will criticize us for featuring him on this week’s cover, stating that he doesn’t have a prayer in the upcoming race for Iowa’s governor. Those critics may be right, but the residents of this state are fortunate that he is running. Narcisse is honest, open and accessible. Those are words you don’t often hear used to describe average politicians, but Narcisse is by no means average.

Gov. Culver should thank the heavens that Narcisse chose to run as an independent and not as a Democrat. The often-bumbling Culver would have easily won the primary, but not without many awkward moments. Narcisse is a masterful debater; Culver, not so much. If Narcisse is able to acquire enough signatures to get on the ballot for November — and that’s a considerable if — the race will become even more interesting. The contest will still be a two-way race between Culver and Terry Branstad, but the dynamics will change; they always do when Jon Narcisse is in the room.

Reporter Matt Miller interviewed Narcisse for this week’s cover story, helping us all to better understand the simple yet complicated mind of the former Des Moines School Board member, newspaper publisher and outspoken community activist.”

"An Iowa Worth Fighting For" TV & Radio Shows

A 14 part series “An Iowa Worth Fighting For” addresses key issues facing Iowa, ranging from Education Reform to Economic Empowerment. The series can be seen on MediaCom ‘s Public Access Channel in Des Moines from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. every Saturday and will be re-broadcast the following Monday from 10:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. In addition, “An Iowa Worth Fighting For” airs on KBBG FM 88.1 in Waterloo from 2:00 p.m. to . . . → Read More: "An Iowa Worth Fighting For" TV & Radio Shows