Amy Nielsen, Royce Phillips to meet for District 77

By Makayla Tendall, The Gazette

Democrat Amy Nielsen of North Liberty and will vie against Republican and former Tiffin Mayor Royce Phillips in the November general election to represent state House District 77, which includes North Liberty, Tiffin, Oxford, Swisher and Shueyville.

Incumbent Rep. Sally Stutsman, D-Riverside, decided not to seek re-election.

Nielsen, current mayor of North Liberty, ran against Democrat Abbie Weipert of Tiffin with the intent of making increased funding for education and a better health care coverage priorities in the Legislature.

Nielsen said she has seen through her three children's educations the effects of state funding on educational opportunities, and she will advocate for more educational opportunities across the state that can only be brought through higher education funding.

'It's really the most basic action that we need,” Nielsen said Tuesday evening. 'We need to fund our schools adequately and on time. When the House fails to do their job, the schools can't do theirs.”

Crisis mental health services are another goal for Nielsen, saying that both immediate and long-term care services to be available for those in need.

Nielsen raised $6,375 for her primary campaign, with $3,420 in-kind contributions.

Phillips, the pastor of Tabernacle Baptist Church in Tiffin, said he would champion fiscal responsibility, small government and common-sense leadership in the Legislator.

'There are things that need to be addressed that are ongoing,” Phillips said. 'I think that I have the gifts and the tools to continue.”

Phillips, who calls former Rep. Sally Stutsman a friend, said he will champion adequate education funding from the state just as Stutsman had and as Nielsen said she would do.

However, he said the difference comes from his emphasis on economic growth. Education funding cannot simply be increased by a few percentages each year, he said.

His philosophy for the city of Tiffin is that if the businesses do well and the city is flourishing economically, education funding does, too.

Phillips raised a total of $1,005 for his campaign, $780 of which was donated by him. He had $2,958.91 in-kind contributions.

Paula Dreeszen, who lost to Phillips, said that though she still hopes to see a Republican representing House 77.

'Although I was not the people's choice, I want you to know that I will support tonight's winner and help promote him as he continues his bid for the nomination in the general election in November,” Dreeszen said.

Iowa House representatives serve two-year terms and are paid $25,000 a year.