Don't eliminate Generation Iowa Commission

By The Quad-City Times

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Former Iowa Quad City state legislator Elesha Gayman is in Alexandria, Va., working for a national health care nonprofit and juggling the contracting crews that are renovating her condo for sale. She says she and her new husband have eyes on a bigger, more family friendly home.

Three years ago as a state representative from Davenport, Gayman championed the Generation Iowa Commission, charged with retaining and attracting young people in Iowa. Today, she's a symptom of the trend she hoped to reverse: Young people leaving the state for careers, relationships and starting a family.

“Could I have found work in Iowa?” she asked rhetorically. “Probably. But could I work in politics in the capacity I am doing now? Probably not.”

Gayman is in charge of government relations for the Lupus Foundation of America. She helps organize state chapters and coordinate legislation nationwide. Her husband is based in the metro Washington, D.C., area, which she believed provided more career opportunities than her home state. That's why she remains convinced the Generation Iowa Commission needn't be scrapped as proposed by Gov. Terry Branstad and Iowa House Speaker Kraig Paulsen. Without it, no one in state government is in charge of attracting and retaining young people in Iowa. Without it, new young Iowans like Khara Coleman-Washington would run into the same obstacles that inhibit youthful civic leadership.

“I think the commission should be given a chance to show that it is having an impact,” Washington said.

The 33-year-old moved to the Quad Cities with her husband and took a job at a private law firm. In December, she joined the Scott County Attorney's office where she will be prosecuting criminal cases. She joined the Generation Iowa Commission in November to share her enthusiasm for the state.

“I feel pretty strongly Iowa is a good place to live. I am proud to live in Iowa and that's a story I don't mind sharing.”

The Generation Iowa commission spends virtually nothing to cheerlead Iowa among young people and advise lawmakers and staff on strategy. One piece of advice, now law, requires Iowa boards and commissions to actively recruit people younger than 40 for service on state boards and commissions. .

“The thing about Iowa is if you want to get involved you can. It wasn't like that in Chicago,” where she said unconnected newcomers weren't exactly welcomed on civic boards. .

Young Iowans like Gayman will always be pulled by career and relationships away from the state. Iowa needs a formal, organized effort to create more opportunities and emphasize those already here.

Eliminating the Generation  Iowa Commission won't reduce the size of government. It won't measurably reduce any spending. All it will do is eliminate the one state agency in charge of a goal dear to most older Iowans: Keeping the younger ones here.