Iowa House 68 Democrats offer contrasts

CEDAR RAPIDS — Democrats voting in the Iowa House 68 primary will have a choice between one candidate's 'fresh perspective' and another who has 'been around the block.'

'I think it will come down to whether folks think we need a fresh perspective,' says 21-year-old Sam Gray of Marion. 'I think people will vote for that because politics as usual hasn't been working.'

For Molly Donahue, 49, experience is an advantage.

'I have 26 years of experience working with students and families,' she said. 'I've been around the block dealing with these issues, and it gives me an edge.'

Donahue and Gray are running in Iowa House 68, which includes Marion, Bertram, Ely and Putnam. The winner will face first-term Republican Rep. Ken Rizer, 51, of Cedar Rapids.

The primary is Tuesday, with polls open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Rizer, Donahue says, not only has the advantage of incumbency, but a lot of life experience as a retired Air Force colonel.

'We need a candidate who can actually go forward and take on Rizer, and with my experience, I think I'm the one,' she says.

Gray can't match Donahue or Rizer on life experience, but based on what voters have been telling him, they are looking for change.

Campaigning since January, Gray says he hasn't met anyone 'who thinks the government is working for them.'

'That's a real shame,' he says. 'We need to put people first rather than big business.'

Donahue is running because of her concern about inadequate state funding for education, but that's not the limit of her concern. Legislative decisions on Medicaid and other programs affect her students, too.

Under private management of Medicaid, she said, 'my students aren't getting the therapy, the medications they need. They're not getting the same things they once received, and their parents can't maneuver the new system.

'Everything I'm talking about is based on school, students and families,' she says.

Gray thinks he has an answer. He cited a study showing how state tax breaks to business mushroom into the loss of billions of tax dollars that could be used to adequately fund schools and other human services.

'It would make more sense for state to live up to its end of the bargain on education and mental health,' Gray says.

He doesn't oppose tax incentives for economic development, but thinks better education and quality of life would attract more development.

'Then there would be money to lower taxes,' Gray says.

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