Politics & Government

Iowa GOP Candidate Quits Senate Race to Become Senator of Alternative Government: 2012 in Review

Iowa City's Randi Shannon, who was the official Republican candidate on the ballot for Iowa Senate District 34, thanked her fellow Ron Paul supporters in announcing she's left the race to become a senator with the "original governmen

Editor's Note: As the year winds down, Iowa City Patch is looking back at some of the stories that made you talk, cry, laugh or just scratch your head.

 

GOP Candidate Quits Iowa Senate Race to Become Senator of Alternative Government

Find out what's happening in Iowa Citywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

  • By Scott Raynor
  • July 13, 2012

For months, Randi Shannon has been campaigning in an important Iowa Senate race, telling people why as the GOP-preferred candidate she's a better choice than Democratic incumbent Liz Mathis to represent Linn County's District 34.

Shannon has now decided not only that she was the better candidate, but also that she has found a better government, and she dropped out of the race to become "senator" for the "Republic of the United States."

Find out what's happening in Iowa Citywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

A businesswoman who owns Iowa Auto Glass among more than a dozen other businesses, according to Shannon, she could not bring herself to work for "the corporation" as she describes the current legal status of the U.S. government, the one most people are familiar with.

"I don’t see running for state senate in the way that I have been doing it is going to make a great change," she said.

Also See: 

Reaction to Rep. Steve King Saying Unemployed Don't Work Enough

Rick Santorum Returns to Central Iowa on Thank-You Tour

In a four-page letter announcing her withdrawl Friday, Shannon thanked, "my fellow Ron Paul for President Supporters, My Fellow Members of Liberty, My Friends who home school as did I, the many Pro-Life Members," and more.

Her letter describes the Republic as an "original government," and it certainly is that.

Recently, she said, it passed its own "law" stating that life begins at conception.

The race, as all Iowa Senate races are, is important, primarily because Democrats hold only a two seat lead in the state's upper chamber.

In a news release provided to Patch, Shannon refers to herself as "Senator Randi Shannon" of the "Republic for Iowa, Republic of the United States of America."

She said she became aware of this government from friends and political contacts, but was only convinced after meeting several higher ups in an unofficial meeting in Atlanta about a month ago.

"Trust me this story does not end here nor does my commitment," she wrote in the letter. "In fact, my level of service to the good people of Iowa who have been so supportive of me and my campaign will be greatly increased."

Original Government?

The U.S. Government officially incorporated as a company right before the passing of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, Shannon says.

If you remember from history class, the 14th Amendment famously established the equal protection clause, which establishes the validity of debt incurred by the U.S. and outlined the incorporation clause, which establishes that the Bill of Rights be used on the state level, in addition to the national level.

Two years ago a group of "fed up" people formed the Republic of the United States of America and began what she describes as the legitmate and original constitutional government, which she refers to as "the republic."

She said the republic gains its legitmacy from the U.S. Constitution and that it has been recognized by the U.S. Supreme Court in the past. She added that the the U.S. House of Representatives were made aware of the reinhabitation of the government in 2010.

New Senator

Shannon said she's excited for her position with the republic and will be one of two Iowa senators, four house members, a judge and several police officers that act as "American rangers."

She said the republic has already enacted legislation that declares life beginning at conception in addition to legislation she said she's already voted for — establishing the aforementioned rangers.

Since what she calls the "corporation government" has enacted unconstitutional laws, the republic has constitutional enforcement officers, that you can call if you are pulled over for anything but a felony charge or for injuring someone else.

Shannon said the ranger would inform the police officer that they were violating their oath, at which point Shannon said the officer would have to comply.

When asked if she believes that a Cedar Rapids Police officer would listen to an American ranger, she had this to say:

"I do believe that they would listen to them because they know the law," she said.

Senate District 34 Race

Now that she's out of the race, the Linn County Republicans have to choose another candidate for the November election against Mathis.

Linn County Republican Chair Steve Armstrong said he was previously unaware of Shannon’s plans to drop out of the race. He said the party will likely work on a new nomination at the upcoming Linn County Republican Central Committee meeting next Tuesday.

"We'll make an effort for someone else to run for that slot and we'll get together with the community," he said.

When asked what she would say to disappointed Republican voters, Shannon said she's confident that she's found the right government, suggesting they call her or check out these YouTube videos.

"I would say that if they do their research, what we have was the real deal," she said, referring to the time period before the 14th Amendment. "What we have now isn't the real deal."

Read more:

Patch Poll: Will Ron Paul's Supporters Help or Hurt Mitt Romney in the Coming Election?

Ron Paul Supporters Carry Iowa Republican Convention

Red Iowa Survey: Iowa’s Powerful Ron Paul Republicans Still Leery of Mitt Romney


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

More from Iowa City