First district candidate Gail Boliver’s top priority is addressing the national debt

WATERLOO - Marshalltown attorney Gail Boliver makes it easy for voters to distinguish him from his other opponents, on both the Republican and Democratic tickets.

Boliver, 64, is vying for the Republican nomination for the open 1st District congressional seat. He's been called a Democrat, and has given money to the Democratic U.S. Rep. Bruce Braley, whom he hopes to replace.

But Boliver says his beliefs fall clearly into the traditional views held by Republicans: smaller government and conservative principles.

'I think the voter needs to know where you stand, and I believe the other gentlemen (in the Republican primary) ... are good persons. I like them. I like the Democrats,” Boliver said. 'A lot of these distinctions apply against the Democrats, their positions. None of them are military members. I think that just happens to be an important deal.”

Boliver, who served in the Air Force during the Vietnam era, said his experience has served as a valuable lesson against overcommitting American troops. He said if American lives are at risk, there better be a good reason for getting involved in foreign conflicts.

But his top priority is addressing the national debt.

'We can't keep the same level of spending, because the debt just keeps rising, and there is an end. Greece demonstrates that for us,” Boliver said. 'We're a debtor nation, which means your strength in terms of your ability to do things globally is much less. You're much weaker.”

Boliver said he is in favor of reforming entitlements - Social Security and Medicare - but he said he would want to study the options before committing to the best path forward. He does, however, draw the line at cutting food stamps, as his would-be Republicans colleagues proposed in the U.S. House.

He also would like to see the corporate tax reduced so that companies are encouraged to bring their money back from overseas to reinvest in the American economy.

On marriage equality, Boliver said he believes gay soldiers have fought and died for their country and it 'slaps them in the face” to deny them anything less than the full rights given to other Americans. On the issue of abortion, he said he believes it is conservative to keep government out of a woman's choice.

Boliver also is calling for the tweaking of the federal health reform law, known as Obamacare, rather than its outright repeal. He does believe it is too expensive and will kill jobs, but he believes by working across party lines it can be improved.

Boliver said he supports the Senate-passed version of immigration reform, which addresses both border security and undocumented immigrants living and working in the United States. He also wants to welcome unskilled and skilled immigrants into the United States, so that the country can better compete with other nations.

He also supports an energy policy that leads to independence from foreign oil, and to that end supports building the keystone pipeline, exporting liquefied natural gas and renewable energy.

Bio

'Gail Boliver

'Age

: 64

'Occupation

: attorney

'Previous elected experience

: Marshalltown School Board 1983-1991

'Hometown

: Grinnell (living in Marshalltown now)