It is a honor to help with so many ‘life stories’

My Dad retired from Quaker Oats after 33 years of a great job that helped raise his family and is now beginning to plan for all the issues that our senior citizens face, like fixed income, health care and assisted living planning.

A high school classmate lost her job and then enrolled at Kirkwood to enhance her job skills.

Another friend welcomed his third healthy child to the family, moving to a bigger home in the Linn-Mar School District, and he is continuing to build his small business.

I am Rep. Daniel Lundby, serving the people of Marion, Bertram and Ely in the Iowa Legislature. These three stories are among the hundreds of life stories that guide me in public service.

I've worked with Democrats and Republicans to protect our senior citizens from elder abuse, financial fraudsters and outdated standards for nursing home care. My dad is enjoying his retirement and good physical health, but for many seniors the day comes when they need family and a community to assist them in living out their golden years.

I will continue to fight for effective oversight of assisted living facilities and nursing homes and effective consumer financial laws that protect vulnerable senior citizens. Our senior citizens deserve a life story that doesn't end by being taken advantage of or abused.

Our children deserve a life story that begins with hope for the future. I have been a steadfast advocate for predictable funding of our K-12 schools and community colleges. I opposed efforts to freeze school funding, which was particularly harmful to the Marion Independent School District. I also worked to improve funding for our community colleges, assisting Kirkwood in its educational mission, which helped my friend update her job skills.

Finally, I am proud to say my reputation for being independent and working with both political parties follows in the tradition of my mom, former Sen. Mary Lundby. We passed Iowa's largest property tax cut, helping Linn County small businesses and families. My friend with the new baby can now reinvest that money into his business, building it up so that perhaps someday his newborn daughter may run it.

I am proud to have continued the 'Lundby Legacy” of working with everyone, no matter their political party, to find solutions to all of those life stories that I take to the Capitol.

' Daniel Lundby is the Democratic candidate for Iowa House District 68. Comments: lundbyforiowahouse@gmail.com