In an effort to mend fences, former New York City Mayor and Republican Presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani made a special trip to the home of Deb and Jerry VonSprecken on May 14. The VonSpreckens were planning a rally for Giuliani, but his staff canceled. A staffer, Tony Delgado, told the couple Giuliani would not be able to attend because he planned to speak on the Federal Estate Tax and since they weren’t worth a million dollars it wouldn’t affect them.

After an explosion of Internet blogs were generated by an Anamosa Journal-Eureka article that appeared on May 3, (Giuliani Snubs Jones County), and excerpts from the story winding up on the Associated Press wire, Giuliani called the VonSpreckens on May 12. (See related story.)

“I found out what had happened a couple of days ago. It was reported to me that we canceled an event and the family was upset,” said Giuliani in an exclusive interview on May 14. “It should have never happened. It’s my campaign and I take full responsibility. This is not the way I think this should’ve been handled or people should be treated.”

“I accept your apology,” beamed Deb, as Ronald Reagan beamed with her from a wall calendar.

The VonSpreckens and Giuliani exchanged hats, he gave them campaign hats and Yankees hats, and the VonSpreckens gave him Texas Longhorn hats, compliments of Deb’s family in Texas.

Former New York Mayor and Republican Presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani feeds Doodlebug, a days old calf, as Deb VonSprecken looks on.

Giuliani asked the couple if they would like to reschedule a rally on their farm, but the VonSpreckens declined. He then asked what he could do to make it up to her. The couple and Giuliani agreed that he would visit on May 14. Giuliani said he would be scheduling a Jones County event. The VonSpreckens also asked Giuliani to call Deb’s family to apologize to them because they had come to her home for the event.

“He made a special trip up here and changed his schedule because he wanted to apologize personally,” Jerry explained.

“We’re going to work with Deb and Jerry and want their help to it the right way,” he added.
When asked about an apology that was extended by John McCain hours before Giuliani himself called the couple for the first time on May 12, Giuliani said, “I think John was sincere. He’s a good friend and I completely share his sentiment , that’s why I wanted to come here in person.”

Giuliani wasn’t surprised that the original story spread quickly over the Internet.

“Here we are on a farming in Iowa and we’re connected to the whole world like that,” he exclaimed, snapping his fingers.

While at the VonSprecken home, Giuliani asked if Deb would consider becoming his Jones County Chairwoman.

“We discussed what it would entail and whether or not I would be able to physically do this because of my illness,” said Deb, who suffers from Fibromyalgia. “They said I can do the leg work and they can assist me.”

Later in the day, while talking to one of Giuliani’s staff members, Deb agreed to head up campaign efforts in the county.

“We felt he was sincere in his apology, and I felt I was treated with the utmost respect. His people were most kind,” Deb offered.

“I think Deb’s feeling a lot better getting this off her chest,” Jerry included.

While at the VonSpreckens, Giuliani answered questions on topics of concern for Iowans.

Iraq War
Giuliani said he could only speak on what he would do now because things could change by the time a new president takes office.

“What has to be done is give the troops the support they need to get the job done,” he said and stated that supplies and money should be continued and that the US should not pull out.

“That would be self-defeating,” he added.

Giuliani said the military should help create a sense of security for the Iraqi people.

‘We need to define success, getting people working again, get kids back in school and rebuild roads,” he said and included that Americans should be given a progress reports on the war.

Alternative Fuel
“I’m a big supporter of energy efficiency and diversity,” Giuliani stated. “It’s important for the economy, reduction in pollution, global warming and national security.”

Giuliani added that the private market should be solving the energy problem, but the president should help lead energy independence. He thinks harnessing, storing and saving alternative fuels is key, such as wind and solar. He said he would also like to see and increase in nuclear plants, clean burning coal use and oil that is within our control.

Education
Giuliani said he feels that parents should have more input when it comes to their child’s education,
“The best people to evaluate the school system are not the government and schools, but the parents,” he said.

He included that parents should be allowed to choose the school and should respond to what the parents need and want.

Giuliani said different school systems face different problems and solutions should be gauged to address those problems. He was unaware of the declining enrollment problems many schools in Iowa are facing, and added that he would have to explore that issue.

While at the VonSpreckens, Giuliani toured the couples farm and bottle fed one of their calves.

Increased Traffic Shuts Down AJE Website
A large number of hits on the Anamosa Journal-Eureka website on the evening of May 10 brought the website to a screeching halt. The increased traffic was due to a story, Giuliani Snubs Jones County, which appeared in the paper May 3.

“Blog sites picked up the story and included links to our website so readers could see the full story. The website was overwhelmed by the volume and no one could get on our site,” said Michelle Phillips, Anamosa Journal-Eureka Editor.

The website’s bandwidth was increased and it was working again on May 11.

For the first time in history, Anamosa High School will be sending an Economics team to the National Economics Challenge in New York.

Adam Andreesen, Kun Hee Lee, Kathleen McNamara and Joanna Payton will compete on May 19 and 20 and will be accompanied by AHS economics teacher Gary Heier.
Andreesen, Lee and McNamara will all miss graduation to attend the contest.
The students will take tests individually in the areas of micro and macro economics and a group test on international economics.

“It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity. No one expected to make it this far,” said Andreesen, who added he doesn’t mind missing graduation because he didn’t want to give a speech. He is one of the class officers and had been scheduled to speak.

The team won the spot at nationals after defeating seven other states at the Midwest regional competition in Chicago on April 23.

“It’s a really great opportunity. I never expected to go to New York,” said lee.

Payton added, “I’m very excited and stressed out.”

Andreesen said he feels the team is ready, and they have spent mornings to study for the contest. The students said it was very helpful to have materials from previous years.

“Mr. Heier has done a great job preparing us. He’s a great teacher,” McNamara praised.

Lee said he is hoping to major in economics, but hasn’t chosen a school. Andreesen will attend Drake University and major in actuarial science and McNamara is planning to attend University of Iowa’s Pharmacy program. Payton is a junior and not yet chosena major.