Reader supports Abuissa for Congress

I endorse Newman Abuissa, Democrat, for the U.S. House of Representatives, to represent Iowa's 2nd Congressional District. Newman was born in Syria, came to the U.S. as a young man, and became a U.S. citizen decades ago. He is a community leader and has worked as an engineer for the Iowa Department of Transportation for thirty years. I believe his values and policy positions are reflective of the majority of Southeast Iowans.

There are several things that set him apart from other candidates, past and present. Having grown up in Syria, he has a broader perspective of the world than most, and has a fierce appetite to see the U.S. reclaim its promise. Friends and relatives of his remain in Syria, and his daily worries and thoughts about them help inform his vision for Iowa and the U.S.

He is special because peace is the cornerstone of his candidacy. He connects the dots between a gargantuan military budget that costs $2,200 per person and which starves mental health, education, infrastructure and environmental budgets. He sees that our endless wars are draining our moral and institutional capital while creating an awful reputation for the U.S. abroad. He sees that environmental and economic health here can't be achieved when our strength is measured by our investment in instruments of war.

Learn more about Newman Abuissa and give him close consideration as primary election season nears.

Ed Flaherty

Iowa City