Teacher candidates push education issues

LINN COUNTY - Two Linn County public schoolteachers will meet in a Nov. 4 rematch of the 2012 race that earned Republican Quentin Stanerson a seat in the Iowa House of Representatives.

Not surprisingly, both Stanerson and his Democratic opponent, Kristi Keast, believe state investments in public education will help build a strong economy.

Stanerson, who teaches social studies at North-Linn Community Schools, defeated Keast, a music teacher at Mount Vernon schools, by 200 votes two years ago to represent House District 95, which includes most of rural northern and eastern Linn County and the southeast corner of Buchanan County.

Stanerson, speaking at an Oct. 7 League of Women Voters candidate forum in Central city, said jobs, education and a fiscally sound budget were his top priorities if re-elected to a second term.

'Education is the key to jobs. Well-educated citizens will ensure a strong economy,” Keast said at the same forum. 'The shortage of trained, skilled workers is the biggest obstacle to business expansion in Iowa.”

Both Keast and Stanerson said they support the state's voluntary nutrient reduction strategy, which is intended to limit to safe levels the volume of farm fertilizer polluting the state's surface waters.

Stanerson, a Marine Corps veteran, called it 'a great voluntary program” and said government needs to give farmers the tools they need to succeed.

'Funds need to be increased to encourage farmers to take on additional conservation projects,” Keast said.

Both candidates agree that Iowa roads and bridges are in need of expensive repairs, but neither candidate would commit to increasing the state's gasoline tax as a means to fund long-deferred maintenance.

Keast recommended applying 'surplus funds to repair roads most in need,” while Stanerson said a gas tax hike would be an option after rooting out program inefficiencies and sharpening repair priorities.

Keast said Iowa should raise its minimum wage incrementally to $10.10 an hour, asserting that 300,000 Iowans would benefit from the increase.

Stanerson said he is 'open to conversation” on increasing the minimum wage, but said he views it 'as a starting point, not an ending point,” and said Iowa should focus more on creating good-paying jobs.

Both candidates spoke in favor of exporting wind energy produced in Iowa but balked at endorsing eminent domains as a means to secure right of way for the proposed Rock Island Clean Line, a 500-mile overhead high voltage direct current transmission line that would deliver wind energy produced in northwest Iowa to Illinois and other states to the east.

Keast called photo identification for voting an 'unnecessary step,” while Stanerson said he would support such a requirement to 'uphold integrity in the voting process.”

Candidate Bios:

Kristi Keast

' Age: 54

' Political party: Democrat

' Hometown: Marion

' Occupation: Teacher

' Previous political experience: None

' Highest education: Master of arts, University of Iowa

Quentin Stanerson

' Age: 37

' Political party: Republican

' Hometown: Center Point

' Occupation: Teacher

' Previous political experience: State representative since 2012

' Highest education: Master of education administration, Grand Canyon University