February 06, 2007

Blogger Spotlight: Blog for Iowa's Sam Garchik

Continuing the Blogometer's tour through IA blogs, today we talk to Sam Garchik who currently manages Blog for Iowa.

What is your full name?

Sam Garchik

What is your age?

33

What's your hometown?

I grew up in San Francisco (my mother, Leah Garchik, writes a daily column for the SF Chronicle)

Where do you live now?

I live in Iowa City

What is your educational background?

BA, Art History, UC Santa Barbara
MA, History, Kansas State University
Teaching Certificate, University of Iowa

What is your occupation?

High School Teacher, Linn Mar School District, Marion, IA

When did you first get involved in politics and why?

I was always a yellow-dog Democrat (only without the southern civil war resentment). But I was the field director for Art Small when he ran against Charles Grassley for US Senate in 2004. I met great Democrats all around the state, and decided I wanted to get more involved in progressive issues.

When did you start blogging and why?

About a year ago, I took over this blog from Linda Theiman, who did a great job of launching Blog for Iowa several years ago. Linda wanted to do something different, and I wanted to get more involved.

How are blogs changing politics in your state?

There are lots of great blogs in Iowa. I have a Feedblitz service set up so I can read as many as possible every day, although I'd be the first to admit I can't read them all. Even the conservative blogs here often have great stuff to say about sensible policies and the things that happen in Iowa. All this info needs to be spread around and shared so that people can understand where candidates stand on issues, and what is going on in Des Moines.

What's your favorite most unsung specific example of a blogger affecting a political figure, organization, philosophy, or movement?

Dean for America and Blog for America in 2004. The blogosphere has great potential to spread ideas fast, and get information out to lots of people quickly.

Tomorrow the five main contributors to the Grinnell College Campus Democrats group blog Iowa Progress will be answering our withering questions.

Posted by Conn Carroll at February 6, 2007 12:28 PM