Huckabee Makes Two Stops In Oskaloosa
Presidential candidate Mike Huckabee (R) talks with Oskaloosa Pastor Troy Renter at Smokey Row Coffee in Oskaloosa on Wednesday.
Oskaloosa, Iowa – Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee officially started his road to the White House in Oskaloosa on Wednesday, after announcing his run for the nation’s highest office the day before.
His first stop as a newly re-minted candidate was a surprise stop at Smokey Row Coffee in downtown Osklaoosa. While there, the former governor met and conversed with a large cross-section of individuals.
Janet Huckabee accompanied her husband to Smokey Row and later to Clow Valve Company.
At Clow Valve, candidate Huckabee was in full campaign mode, listening and nodding his head as the various processes were explained to the former Arkansas Governor. Huckabee shook hands with workers at the various stations set up along the tour, he then made his way to a platform where he was presented a smaller version of the fire hydrant Clow makes.
Clow Valve presented Huckabee with miniature fire hydrant in recognition of His father’s experience as a volunteer firefighter.
“We are proud of what we do here. We supply American jobs and support the local community, and that is extremely important to us at Clow Valve,” said Clow Valve General Manager Mark Willett.
Huckabee thanked Clow and its employees for the tour and allowing him to disrupt their day. “I suggested that maybe, since we’ve already disrupted this much of the day, he should just let everybody take the rest of the day off.” Some laughter and a few claps rose from those gathered, which included approximately 50 employees.
“I told him I would lose his [Willett] vote to get everybody elses,” joked Huckabee, “I thought it might be worth a shot.”
Huckabee visits with a Clow employee during his visit in Oskaloosa Wednesday.
Huckabee said it was impressive to see what Clow Valve does and how fire hydrants are made, “and I always appreciate learning how things are made”.
Huckabee said he was grateful for the memento of the trip to the Clow facility, because “we have dogs in our family and I’m pretty sure if we don’t have a place for this, the dogs are going to love this fire hydrant.”
“I assure you it will get many, many opportunities for usage in the back yard, and the dogs will be ever so grateful,” said Huckabee.
“One of the things that impressed me most about this company is not just what you make, but it’s the people who make it,” said Huckabee. “Still an American company making an American product. And rather than seeing a product that’s made overseas and brought into the US, this is a US product that’s being shipped all over the world.”
Huckabee remarked about the large valves he observed that included a flag and insignia ‘Made In The USA’ that were being shipped overseas. “It was just refreshing to see manufacturing alive and well in America.”
Huckabee spoke about Clow’s commitment to invest in its employees. “With good pay and amazing benefits,” said Huckabee, who referenced the many benefits Clow employees enjoy. “It’s pretty rare these days.”
Huckabee then took questions from the press who had gathered. Osky News asked him about Oskaloosa being that first stop on the campaign trail. “One of the reasons we wanted to be here today, because if you heard the speech yesterday, one of the themes I talked about was making manufacturing alive again in America. So people are building the things that make us strong, that make us safe. Give people good jobs, good wages and a long term future. This is a great place to come and to start that whole reminder that here in Iowa there are still things being manufactured here.”
