It is time to vote for a new governor

After serving in office as long as Gov. Terry Branstad has, the governor for life mentality seems to take over.

He sets up boards, commissions and advisory groups to investigate matters, but he already has decided the outcome, so he stacks the committees to a comical degree. I love it that an advisory group formed mostly of developers got to recommend whether contractors should replace four inches of topsoil they routinely remove from residential lots (of course, they decided no). My favorite: The appointment of a Catholic priest to the medical board that examined whether telemedicine could be used for supervising chemical abortions in medically underserved areas.

Let's retire this governor. Jack Hatch shows signs of being more evenhanded, helping the business climate and helping the working poor, the mentally ill, nursing home residents, troubled kids and Iowans trapped in rural isolation.

Eugene Spaziani

Iowa City