CEDAR RAPIDS — If the Democratic meeting and special nominating convention held Wednesday night was a marathon, then the Republican convention could be described as a 100-yard dash. The entire proceedings were finished in less than 30 minutes.

Josh Thurston

Josh Thurston

Roughly 25 people observed as six of 22 possible Republican delegates from Iowa House District 33 decided between three potential candidates: Ken Childress, John King and Josh Thurston. After each candidate was provided five minutes to make his case, delegates cast their vote and Thurston was the clear winner.

According to Tim Palmer, chairman of the Linn County Republican Central Committee, the sparse delegate attendance for the convention was a combination of currently vacant seats and seated individuals who were unable to attend.

Thurston, who had been encouraged to run for the position by key people within the Linn County Party, is a native Iowan, military veteran, union member and only recently changed his political party affiliation to Republican.

“I’ve given a lot of thought to [pursuing this candidacy],” Thurston told those at the special convention.

“I don’t believe that I’m special in any way. I’ve never thought of entering politics, because I believe there are people who are called to that. Until recently, I didn’t believe that was me. Today, I stand before you as a voice wanting to be heard.”

While his opponents made cases on how they could garner votes on the Nov. 24 ballot due to name recognition and long-held stances on conservative issues and values, Thurston focused on what he wished to accomplish after being elected.

“I want this to be a place where I can raise my family,” Thurston said, raising his voice slightly to be heard above the chatter of his two young children at the back of the room. “I want this to be a place that has jobs — that people come to Iowa to look for jobs, not leave Iowa to look for jobs. I believe in the American dream. I’m living that dream — my wife and my family are all here to support me.”

Thurston, who has worked 18 months for Cargill, is a member of Teamsters Local 238. As a member of the U.S. Army, he was deployed to Iraq as a part of Operation Iraqi Freedom from March 2004 to April 2005.

Following the meeting, Thurston was visibly stunned and humbled by the news that he was now the candidate for House District 33.

“I’m excited about the chance that I’m going to have to make a difference for people in Iowa in Cedar Rapids and the other surrounding communities. I’m excited about tonight — I’m still sort of awe-struck, I guess you could say, but I’m definitely excited. I look forward to working hard for Iowans who work hard for themselves,” he said.

Thurston will face Democratic candidate Kirsten Running-Marquardt on the Nov. 24 special ballot. According to the state and county election officials, no other nominating papers have yet been filed by non-party or third-party candidates. The deadline is 5 p.m. today.

The special election in Iowa House District 33 was called by Gov. Chet Culver after former Rep. Dick Taylor, a Democrat who had represented the District since a special election in 2000, announced his retirement earlier this month.