GOP Candidate Switches Parties After Attack [View All]

[Judi Lynn]

GOP Candidate Switches Parties After Attack
Rants Defends Flier

POSTED: 3:26 pm CDT September 18, 2006
UPDATED: 4:04 pm CDT September 18, 2006

DES MOINES, Iowa -- A Republican challenger for southern Iowa's House District 94 has changed his party affiliation after the state GOP distributed a brochure criticizing his Democratic opponent.

Kevin Wiskus said in a letter to Democratic incumbent Kurt Swaim that he knew nothing about the mailer and apologized to Swaim and his family. Wiskus said he will continue running in House District 94 as an independent. The district includes Wayne, Appanoose and Davis counties. The state Republican Party sent out a mailer accusing Swaim of coddling child sex abusers.

It cited Swaim's work as a court-appointed public defender of an accused sex offender who was only served four days in jail. Swaim said he has received support from Republicans, Democrats and independents and that people see through the mailing.

House Speaker Chris Rants defends the flier, saying it contains nothing that is untrue.
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http://www.kcci.com/politics/9878030/detail.html

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Longer version:

Candidate switches parties after attack
Published: 09/18/2006 2:53 PM
By:
Mike Glover - Special to The Gazette
~snip~
Wiskus apologized in the letter to Swaim and his wife.

"Though I had no knowledge of this vicious attack on you, I ask that you please accept my most sincere and humble apologies to you and Julie,'' Wiskus said.

Wiskus planned to publish his apology this week in the The Daily Iowegian newspaper.

Swaim said the voters see through the mailing.

"I'm very appreciative of all the support I've received from Republicans, Democrats and independents alike,'' said Swaim. "This just goes beyond the pale and the good people of this district realize it.''

House Speaker Chris Rants, R-Sioux City, defended the mailing.

"I understand that some people don't like that piece. It makes them uncomfortable,'' said Rants. "Unfortunately, Kurt has done some things his constituents ought to know about. There's nothing untrue in that piece and there's absolutely nothing misleading.''
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http://www.crgazette.com/2006/09/18/Home/gop.htm



Three faces of Republican House Speaker Chris Rants.