House District 73 candidates cite bipartisanship, local knowledge

CEDAR RAPIDS - Rep. Bobby Kaufmann, R-Wilton, prides himself on working well with others. The House District 73 representative said throughout his first term as an Iowa lawmaker he's co-sponsored bills with several Democratic lawmakers from Johnson County.

'I've been able to achieve results, do good things for my district and accomplish those things by working in a bipartisan manner,” Kaufmann said of why he's seeking another term.

House District 73 encompasses Cedar County, with small portions of Johnson County and the city of Wilton.

However, Democratic challenger David Johnson of West Branch said his opponent lacks local experience to understand how legislative decisions can affect local entities. Johnson said his background as a city council member is one reason he should be elected on Nov. 4.

'Balancing a budget at the state level is a whole different ballgame than at the local level,” Johnson said. 'But when you're a city councilor, you're one of five people and you don't have the professional staff to go through that. You have to go line by line and balance the budget with what you have.”

If re-elected, Kaufmann said he would focus on funding for state infrastructure, roads and bridges. He said he supports a gas tax to help improve funding, which he considers 'a fiscally conservative choice.”

Kaufmann also would do more for water quality initiatives, restore water quality funding and tackle the issue of private property rights to stop what he sees as the encroaching practice of eminent domain.

Last session, Kaufmann questioned the Rock Island Clean Line project, which would harness wind energy in western Iowa and transport it for sale to Illinois. Some Iowa landowners, who would have proposed transmission lines running across their property, expressed concern.

Johnson said if elected he would push for an increase in the minimum wage. A $15-an-hour minimum wage would be tied to workers also pursing an education, he said.

Democrats so far have been unsuccessful in passing legislation that focuses on $10 an hour wage.

'It's always worth fighting for,” he said. 'You're never going to get what you don't ask for.”

Johnson, a military veteran, said he appreciates Gov. Terry Branstad's efforts to expand opportunities for veterans in the state through the Home Base Iowa Act. But there's more to be done, he said, which includes expanding the G.I. Bill tuition code to include in-state tuition for all veterans pursuing graduate school at the University of Iowa.

Today the measure only applies to undergraduate degrees, Johnson noted.

Candidate Bios:

Bobby Kaufmann

' Age: 29

' Political party: Republican

' Hometown: Wilton

' Current occupation: Farmer and small-business owner

' Political experience: Representative

' Highest education: Studied small business, University of Iowa

David Johnson

' Age: 49

' Political party: Democrat

' Hometown: West Branch

' Current occupation: Senior database administrator, University of Iowa Regsitrar

' Political experience: West Branch city council

' Highest Education: Bachelor of arts, University of Iowa