Shawn happens to look like “The Dude” from the 1998 cult classic film, The Big Lebowski. The Coen Brothers, who made the film, create stranger-than-fiction situations where real people, like the Dude, try to navigate their way back to a sane reality. Sound familiar?

Politicians in our bizarre reality spend their time and resources dividing everyday Americans in hopes of consolidating their power rather than getting real things done. Pat Grassley and his fellow Republicans tout their actions as being good for Iowans, when in reality they serve  themselves and their special interest groups.

Pat Grassley says he’s a “farmer”, but he’s a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Under his leadership rural Iowa is losing. Our schools are consolidating and going broke, access to healthcare is diminishing and rural hospitals are shutting down, our farms are being taken over by corporate interests, our youth are moving away, and our infrastructure is failing from years of Republican neglect. 

Shawn is a smart guy with a PhD in Cancer Cell Biology from Northwestern University.  He is a hard-working and community-minded neighbor who wants the best for everyone. Iowa born and raised, he loves his family, fishing, mushroom hunting, triathlons, and the outdoors. He drives around in an F150 pickup truck with over 300,000 miles because it works and he spends money only when it makes sense.  He has been active in the community, including as a Rotarian, long standing Waverly Oktoberfest Committee member, former Cub scout leader and youth basketball coach. He’s even on the Waverly-Shell Rock School Board. 

And just like Dude, Shawn has had enough. He does not abide by what is happening to Iowa. It is time for a change. Like the movie says, “Sometimes, there’s a man, well, he’s the man for his time and place. He fits right in there. And that’s the Dude”