Suggestions for the next election season

To force candidates and parties to concentrate on the main issues and reduce the influence of big donors, the campaign process needs to be reduced to six months. Candidates should be required to present four things:

1) A biographical statement.

2) What they have accomplished in office if they have served or what they have done for the community if they haven't.

3) How they would solve the problems associated with the major issues facing their constituency.

4) Their responses to their opponents' statements.

We should institute the campaign finance reform suggested by others whereby candidates could only take donations up to $100 from individuals and $1,000 from corporations, public and private groups. This would reduce the influence any one group or individual has over the candidate and force candidates to concentrate on what is good for their city, county, district and state.

It also would reduce the negative ads that are presented over and over again. They do nothing but pull down the morale of all of us as a nation. Does anyone in the Iowa Legislature or Congress have the courage to write a bill and push for these changes? I think you would have a great amount of support from average citizens.

Janet Kvach

Hiawatha