State Senate District 33 focus on education issues

CEDAR RAPIDS - For Harry Foster of Cedar Rapids, having a contested race for the state's Senate District 33 is important for those who want to participate on Nov. 4.

State Senate District 33 includes the area of Cedar Rapids east of the Cedar River.

'I want to offer Cedar Rapidians a choice in their senator,” said Foster, the Republican challenger. 'I just want to give them a choice because the guy was running unopposed.”

Incumbent Sen. Rob Hogg, D-Cedar Rapids, ran without opposition when he was up for re-election in 2010. Hogg has served two terms in the Iowa Senate and previously served two terms in the state House of Representatives.

'There are some issues that are important to my constituents - and me personally - that I think we have a lot of work to do,” Hogg said.

One of those is education funding. Hogg said he wants to see more invested in all aspects of education, from preschool through higher education. It's important to keep education affordable and, in turn, more accessible, he said.

'Money is not the only thing that matters, but we're falling behind the rest of the country on education funding,” Hogg said, noting Iowa is $1,500 below the national average on per student spending.

Speaking of education, Foster said he is leery of Common Core - an initiative for best-practices for English language arts and mathematics - and doesn't believe educational funding should be directly tied to test results. Instead, he said, schools should focus on a variety of approaches to make sure students are learning in the most effective way.

If re-elected, Hogg said he'd continue to focus on alternative energy and sustainability for the environment.

'It's a global issue, it's a federal issue and, yes, it's a state issue,” he said, and noted climate change affects Iowa not only through disaster preparedness for flooding but also through focusing on alternative energy jobs and industries in the state.

He noted the importance of leading the nation in the alternative-energy industry through wind power and solar energy will help produce jobs but also protect the state from future regulatory risks imposed on fossil fuels. He said he'd also focus on transportation alternatives such as improving walkable, bikeable communities and pursue better watershed management.

Foster said although there are national matters that can affect Iowa, he believes there are more important local issues than climate change.

Foster's vision includes limiting taxes imposed on citizens. He said he believes the state is doing a good job reducing taxes and, drawing from his previous experience as a small-business owner, would make sure no unnecessary taxes are imposed on businesses large and small as well as on individuals.

Foster, a veteran who served in Iraq, said he'd like to see more conservative voices in Des Moines and would be one of those voices.

Hogg said he would continue to improve the state's public health such as maintaining support for the mental health system and ensuring adequate community resources in all aspects of health.

Rob Hogg

l Age: 47

l Political party: Democrat

l Hometown: Cedar Rapids

l Current occupation: Lawyer, senator

l Previous political experience: State Representative

l Highest Education: J.D. University of Minnesota

Harry Foster

l Age: 58

l Political party: Republican

l Hometown: Marengo

l Current occupation: Mechanic for Facilities Management Group

l Previous political experience: None

l Highest education: Associate degree, Kirkwood Community College