Former Luther College student Troy Price explains why he wanted to be the new chair of the Iowa Democratic Party

Iowa Democratic Party Chair Troy Price remembers his days at Luther College.  The Durant native spent two years at Luther taking political science classes from Jim Rhodes, Mike Engelhardt and others.

But when he was offered a staff job with Governor Tom Vilsack's office, the opportunity to get some real-life experience was too great to pass up.  He went on to get a degree from the University of Iowa, but also worked as the Press Secretary for Lieutenant Governor Patty Judge, as a political director for President Obama's re-election campaign in Iowa and for Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential campaign.

Price tells decorahnews.com that in the wake of last year's losing presidential campaign, "Our party needs some help right now."  He says he sees his job as Iowa Democratic Party Chair as not just raising money and other resources for the Democratic Party, but as helping the party to find a vision and a direction.

Price believes the party has gotten too top heavy in recent years and needs more grassroots input.  He says Democrats will be successful when they explain to people how the party is fighting for them--for good health care, good jobs and clean water and air.

As state party chair, Price will now be doing a fair amount of traveling across the state.  He says he's already talked with Winneshiek County Democratic Party Chair Matt Tapscott and with Luther College Democrats about visiting Decorah in September.  Of course, it might not be entirely a business trip--he tells decorahnews.com he wouldn't mind squeezing in a canoe trip on the Upper Iowa River as well.