Republican Joni Ernst lists three primary qualifications as the basis for her bid for the U.S. Senate. “I am a mother, I am a soldier and I’m a conservative and you’re going to hear that again and again,” Ernst says. “…Those are the core things that really define me and who I am.”

IA Sen. Joni Ernst (R), from Red Oak.

Ernst, who is the commander of an Iowa National Guard unit, formally kicked off her U.S. Senate campaign Wednesday morning in her hometown of Red Oak. She joins five Republicans who have either formally launched a campaign for the Senate or are in the “exploratory” phase of a campaign.

Ernst says she’s confident she can win at least 35 percent support in next June’s G-O-P primary and avoid a state convention fight her competitors for the party’s U.S. Senate nomination. “We share a lot of similar views, but at the same time I am an average Iowan that has had the opportunity to do exceptional things and really focus on those grassroots efforts and making sure through those grassroots efforts people know me as a mother, the soldier and a conservative,” Ernst says, “and that’s going to resonate with Iowa voters.”

Ernst is stressing her status as the mother of three daughters rather than as the lone female candidate in the Republican ranks. “I think it will be very beneficial in the fact that I can relate very well to those average Iowans that are mothers. I think that is an important aspect because not only as a mother are we connected with our children, but we want the best for our children,” Ernst says. “…Making sure that we have opportunity, whether it’s economic or otherwise, opportunity for our generation, but our children’s generation. We want to protect that.”

Iowa has never elected a woman to the U.S. Senate, to the U.S. House or as governor. Ernst says being a woman candidate in Iowa “very well could be” a detriment. “I can’t make that determination today,” Ernst says. “However when I look at my own candidacy, it’s about making sure that people understand that I am a viable, competant candidate, regardless of my gender.” Ernst is 42 years old and is a lieutenant colonel in the Iowa National Guard. She served as Montgomery County’s Auditor for six years before being elected to the state Senate in January of 2011.

The others who have formally announced their candidacies for the Republican Party’s U.S. Senate nomination are Des Moines lawyer Matt Whitaker; David Young, who was Senator Chuck Grassley’s chief of staff; and Sam Clovis, a Morningside College professor who signed off as a radio talk show host in Sioux City to run.

(Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Republican Senate candidate David Young says his Christian faith is so strong that, if elected, he would try to introduce New York Democratic Senator Charles Schumer to Jesus Christ. But a spokeswoman for the Iowa Republican and former aide to Senator Charles Grassley says Young’s intent would not be to convert Mr. Schumer, who is Jewish, but to promote understanding with a Senate colleague.

GRANGER, Iowa (AP) — A central Iowa woman has been accused of stealing items from a man’s house and setting several fires. The Dallas County Sheriff’s Office says Marcia Schaffer of Granger, was arrested Monday in connection with a June 2nd home invasion and arson.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Authorities in Iowa City say a 54-year-old man has died in the Iowa River. The Johnson County Sheriff’s Office says police and other emergency workers responded yesterday morning to a report of a man falling into the river under the Highway 6 bridge. A short time later, they recovered the body of Perry Graham.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Cuban baseball player Misael Siverio tells a Spanish-language newspaper he has defected to the United States. Siverio was part of the Cuban national team that traveled to Iowa for an exhibition game this week against a collegiate all-star team from the U.S. But the pitcher tells El Nuevo Herald in Miami he made the decision to leave his country “for my future and my family.”

EARLY, Iowa (AP) — A northwest Iowa man convicted of killing his mother and kidnapping another woman wants a retrial. The Sioux City Journal reports a public defender for 21-year-old Kirk Levin, of Early, filed a motion for a new trial in Sac County District Court on Tuesday. A jury found Levin guilty in June of first-degree murder in the January death of Marilynn Schmitt and third-degree kidnapping in the abduction of a woman he met online.

Levin’s trial was moved to Webster County because of heavy publicity. His attorney says a second change of venue request should have been granted. The attorney also says Levin’s statements to police after his arrest should have been inadmissible evidence at trial.

Levin is scheduled to be sentenced on July 26.

Officials in Cass County seek to balance the various County boards and commissions, by having them comprised of men and woman. To that end, gender balance on county and city boards and commissions took effect January 1, 2012. Cass County Auditor Dale Sunderman says “To facilitate gender balancing of Cass County’s boards and commissions, the Cass County Board of Supervisors is taking applications for positions that are currently open [or which will be open within the next year].”

Current positions open are two members for the Cass County Compensation Board. The Supervisors’ previous two appointees were males. Gender balancing would require the appointment of one male and one female to the now vacant positions. Anyone interested in serving in one of those positions (or any of the positions on the County’s website) may get an application at the Cass County Auditor’s office.

Applications and the list of positions open within the next year are available online at the Cass County, Iowa website, casscountyiowa.us/offices/bos/bosforms.htm