msimpson@bbncca.ARPA (Mike Simpson) (05/11/84)
***
11 May 1984.
An item from Wednesday's (May 9) Boston Globe:
On paper, Rich Eychaner seems a dream candidate for the
Iowa GOP in its effort to dethrone a long-time Democratic
incumbent in the state's Fourth Congressional District.
Eychaner is a bright, handsome, well-spoken and
successful businessman and party activist. He's also homosexual
-- outspokenly so.
The 35-year-old president of a moving company appears
likely to win the June 5 primary and become his party's
challenger to Representative Neal Smith, who has served in the
House since 1958.
... Most Republican leaders grit their teeth and vow to
support their party's nominee after pointedly noting that
Eychaner has yet to win the primary.
...Eychaner calls himself a fiscal conservative who wants
to halt increases in the defense budget and (if possible) help
enact a budget freeze to bring deficits under control and
establish affordable and supportable priorities. He defends
social programs, provided they are run efficiently, and says
people who object to social spending should "be aware of the
circumstances of other people's lives."
... Asked if they would back Eychaner should he win the
nomination, party leaders generally say yes, though with apparent
reluctance.
... Luke Roth, executive director of the Iowa GOP, was
[more] enthusiastic. "Rich Eychaner is an excellent candidate,"
he said. "He has put together a good campaign. It shows this
party is open to all different kinds of people and philosophies."
This should be quite interesting.
-- Mike
--
-- cheers,
Mike Simpson, BBN
msimpson@bbn-unix (ARPA)
{decvax,ima,linus,wjh12}!bbncca!msimpson (Usenet)
617-497-2819 (Ma Bell)