Posted on 03/19/2004 10:29:04 AM PST by chance33_98
Council Bluffs Representative Is Democrat No More
POSTED: 11:11 am CST March 19, 2004 UPDATED: 11:16 am CST March 19, 2004
DES MOINES, Iowa -- A House Democrat has switched parties, boosting the Republican majority to 54-46 in an election year during which Democrats had hoped to gain seats.
Friday is the deadline for lawmakers to file papers to run for re-election and Rep. Doug Struyk, of Council Bluffs, announced in a news release that he intends to switch parties and run as a Republican. Struyk said the change is necessary to maintain his independence. He said his priorities have not changed. They continue to be children, education and economic growth.
House Speaker Chris Rants, of Sioux City, said Struyk's decision evolved over time.
Struyk, an attorney, is filing change of party and voter registration forms. He will also withdraw his previously filed nomination papers as a Democrat and file new papers as a Republican to run for a second term.
Rants said Struyk will join the Republican caucus beginning Monday.
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