1st District Republican: Gail Boliver

I would like to address two topics for the voters of the 1st Congressional District: my experience and purpose for running for this office and major issues.

First: I grew up on a small farm near Grinnell. After graduating from Grinnell High School, I attended Iowa State University, majoring in political science and working toward a military commission through the Reserve Officer Training Course (ROTC). I married my high school sweetheart (we have been married for more than 40 years) and have three adult sons and eight grandchildren.

I served five years in the U.S. Air Force as a pilot (T-38) in Arizona. While there, I earned an MBA at Arizona State University. Post Vietnam War, I left the Air Force and enrolled in law school at Creighton University. We moved to Marshalltown, and raised our family.

I rejoined the U. S. Air Force as a reserve legal officer, serving at Offutt AFB and the Iowa Air National Guard, completing 25 years of service. In 2002, I completed a master's degree in political science at Iowa State University.

My federal legal practice, over the last 35 years, has included dealing with immigration, bankruptcy and securities (investor) litigation.

I believe my various experiences have given me insight into many federal issues that need to be resolved.

Second: The top four issues we face today are national debt, jobs, immigration and health care. Our national debt will be a burden on our nation, children and grandchildren unless we address those issues now! We are a debtor nation and that leaves us in a weak position. I believe we must address this issue with sound economic policy. We must reduce our spending and grow our economy. (For example, if a person had too much debt, they could reduce their expenses and increase their income to reduce debt.)

We must create new and high-paying jobs. We can provide incentives for our global corporations to bring their cash back to the United State and reinvest here, which will create high-paying jobs.

Our immigration laws need updated. We currently limit ourselves in acquiring the world's best and brightest. We ask the unskilled to wait years to complete the legal process just to obtain a 'green card.” The U.S. Senate passed a bill nearly a year ago securing the border and addressing those who initially came here illegally. The bill passed the Senate by a huge margin. It would update and improve our immigration laws, making us more competitive in the global market.

We need health insurance coverage for the uninsured. The current Affordable Care Act is very dangerous. It is too expensive and adds to the national debt (among other problems). However, we must address the issue of the uninsured. We have to provide a competitive, market-based product (i.e. personal policy that covers what a person wants/needs).

I believe I can work in Congress to solve our national problems by working 'across party lines” to do what is best for the American people. I humbly ask for your vote on Tuesday.

' Gail Boliver of Marshalltown is a Republican candidate 1st District in Congress. Comments: boliver@boliverlaw.com