Iowa’s elected officials and candidates campaigning for public office are encouraging voters to attend their precinct caucuses tonight at 7 p.m.

“If you want to see change within your government, being involved at the local grassroots level is a way to initiate change,” said Secretary of State Paul Pate in a press release.

“Choose a party, go to your precinct caucus and get involved,” he said.

A precinct is a small political division (approximately one to three neighborhoods grouped together) that makes local participation possible, Pate said.

He reminded voters that “every caucus impacts Iowans,” even though they do not draw very much attention in nonpresidential years.

Tonight’s events are the kickoff for the 1998 election season.

At the caucuses, citizens will elect delegates, alternate delegates and junior delegates to their county conventions. They will also discuss and vote on topics to be included as planks in the party platform, and they will elect two or more people to serve on the county central committees.

The Democrats will hold their county convention on March 14, with the district convention on April 24 and the state convention on June 6 in Des Moines.

“[The caucuses] are a perfect opportunity to come discuss issues that are important to members of the party, and it’s the official beginning of the gubernatorial race,” said Jan Bauer, Democratic county chairperson.

“It’s a real open process — it allows anyone to come in and have their say,” she said. “You come meet your neighbors and discuss what’s important in your neighborhood.”

The Republican county convention will be held March 7, followed by the district caucuses April 18 and the state convention June 13, which will take place in Cedar Rapids.

“The caucuses are the basic building block of the party,” said State Republican Party Chairman Steve Grubbs in a press release.

“This is the opportunity for democracy to well up from the people, and that’s the way it works best,” he said.

As the caucuses approached, two GOP gubernatorial candidates also encouraged voters to attend.

“This isn’t a presidential year, but this caucus cycle is the perfect time to focus on public policy, on what we can do to make Iowa a better, safer, healthier place,” said Des Moines businessman David Oman.

He urged Iowans to speak out against gambling because “gambling revenues have become like crack cocaine to state government,” he said.

“There’s a big reason to go to the caucuses,” Oman said. “It’s to stop the destructive impact gambling is having on our families and our state.”

Lieutenant Governor Joy Corning said in a press release that her “commitment to issues of ultimate importance” in Iowa’s future distinguishes her from the other three candidates — Oman, Pate and U.S. Rep. Jim Lightfoot.

“My goal is to not just tackle Iowa’s immediate and current concerns,” Corning said, “but to take a far-sighted approach to make Iowa better for all Iowans.”

All Ames residents can “make Iowa better” because the caucuses are open to the public. (See sidebar for precincts and caucus locations.)

“Anybody can go to the caucuses,” said Story County Auditor Judy Emmons, “but to be a delegate to the conventions you have to register.”

Emmons said Iowa State students who have registered in their home counties — either in Iowa or out-of-state — can re-register Monday night. At that point, they will be eligible to vote in Story County, she said.

This status will be particularly important on March 31, when the city of Ames is holding a special bond election to fund the new ice facility.

Emmons said the “Ice is Nice” advocacy group is now in the process of drumming up support for that vote, in part by encouraging ISU students to register in Story County.

For those already registered here, there also is a county bond referendum Feb. 10, Emmons said.

If passed, it would allow the county to issue $12.7 million in bonds to pay for a new “County Justice Center,” to be built in Nevada near U.S. Highway 30.