Candidate Profiles

QUALITY EDUCATION - We need to make it a priority to make our pubic schools and universities among the best in the nation once again while providing the option for private education and home schooling. QUALITY OF LIFE - Especially in rural Iowa, we need more focus on good jobs, affordable housing and childcare, support for recreation and natural resources, improved care for older Iowans, and increased accessibility for mental health services. BIPARTISANSHIP - Iowans are growing tired of the excessive partisanship in our legislature and the "my way or the highway" approach that drives people apart. I'll work hard to bring back the cooperative, common sense approach to resolving controversial issues that can bring people together and move Iowa forward.

EDUCATION - We need to make it a priority to return to the excellence in education Iowa was once noted for. Our children and grandchildren deserve nothing less. Efforts to improve teacher pay is a step in the right direction. While finances are only part of the picture, allowable growth for our public schools has failed to even come close to keeping up with rising fixed costs. The result is that transportation, insurance, and utility costs eat up more and more of the budget with less money available to improving educational quality. This needs to change. WORKFORCE SHORTAGE - Iowa is facing a severe workforce shortage if constructive steps aren't taken. Affordable and available childcare is one of the ingredients young families are looking for when determining where to live. We need to provide incentives for companies to offer childcare and seek to make jobs in childcare more attractive. NATURAL RESOURCES - A clean environment, well-maintained parks, and good recreational opportunities help attract and keep people in Iowa. Funding for the Department of Natural Resources and recreational opportunities has not kept pace with significant needs and our state parks are already showing considerable wear and tear. 1. EDUCATION - While finances are only part of the picture, allowable growth for our public schools has filed to even come close to keeping up with rising fixed costs. The result is that transportation, insurance, and utility costs eat up more and more of the budget with less money available for improving educational quality. This needs to change. WORKFORCE SHORTAGE - Iowa is in danger of a workforce shortage that will result in the loss of economic opportunities for our citizens. Affordable and available childcare is an important ingredient in attracting young families to Iowa and we need to provide necessary incentives to employers to provide childcare and make childcare employment more attractive. NATURAL RESOURCES - A clean environment, well-maintained state parks, and recreational opportunities help attract and keep people in Iowa. Iowa's DNR funding has not kept paces with the needs and our parks are already showing resulting wear and tear.

YES - A large percentage of highway accidents and fatalities are the result of distracted driving and has resulted in needless heartache and expense, not to mention ballooning insurance costs.

Iowa's nursing home employees deserve plenty of appreciation for doing an important job under challenging circumstances. State Auditor Sand recently issued a report showing that Iowa lags behind neighboring states in the frequency of nursing home inspections and highlighted a shortage of licensed nurses in care facilities and high workforce turnover due to low pay. Our current legislature has ignored proposals requiring more frequent inspections, studying alternatives to institutional long-term care, raising the minimum wage for nursing home workers and meeting federal staffing guidelines. These reforms are needed and policies I intend to champion of serving in the Iowa House.

The report showing Iowa with the second highest cancer rate in the nation is concerning and it is troubling that it hasn't been receiving greater attention from state leaders. Policy makers should approach this matter with a spirit of scientific inquiry and 1) first determine the validity of the study, and 2) if valid, attempt to ascertain the causes for the high rate of cancer, and 3) if causes can be determined, examine what steps could be considered to reduce this serious threat to health. In the meantime, the state should provide additional funding for cancer research, screenings or prevention programs for residents.

Finding ways to lessen the use of nitrates would be a plus for both water quality and for farmers. We need to take a close look at our current nutrient reduction strategy and determine if there are more effective ways to make significant progress in this area.

Governor Branstad made a poor decision when he closed two of Iowa's four mental health facilities. It should come as no surprise that we're seeing more homelessness and jails being forced to serve as mental health facilities. On top of that, we're 49th in the nation in the number of mental health beds per capita. We need to redouble our efforts to make mental health services available, particularly in rural areas. Recent legislation (HF 2673) which redesigns Iowa's mental health system may be a step in the right direction. It streamlines delivery of services by combining mental health services with substance abuse services and offers specialized services focused on at-risk populations including children, individuals with disabilities, and older adults. However, we have a long way to go.

My opponent and I have very different approach. He introduced legislation (HF 2256) to outlaw abortion from the moment of fertilization with no exceptions for rape, incest, or the life of the mother while allowing for the prosecution and jailing of mothers and doctors. He also voted for the six-week abortion ban which is currently Iowa law. While I support and have voted for restrictions later in pregnancy, I also support exceptions for rape, incest, the life and health of the mother, and fetal abnormalities incompatible with life. Furthermore, I support Iowans' access to reproductive health care, IVF treatment, affordable contraception, and adoption as an alternative to abortion.

I would hesitate to do so as it could be interpreted as a threat to invitro fertilization and some forms of contraception.

In these times of rapid change, our children need and deserve the best education possible. In recent years, Iowa has slipped significantly from among the best in national public education rankings. Our state's future depends on returning to excellence. Here's what I would support: 1. The legislature should account for inflation and the exploding fixed costs in setting the allowable growth rate for Iowa schools. 2. Hastily approved, misguided legislation is proving harmful to the delivery of critical student services, particularly in rural areas. We need to bring all parties to the table to ensure that our AEAs continue to provide help for students and small districts who need them the most. 3. Continue our efforts to attract great teachers. Let's value our teachers' instructional work in essential knowledge and skills and keep the demoralizing culture wars out of the classroom.

1. Prioritize quality education; 2. Emphasize quality of life issues; 3. Provide a clean environment; 4. Encourage a strong sense of community