Rizer says he’s ‘ready to serve’

I'm running to continue a life of service. I want to do my part to make Iowa a place of opportunity where people live, work and grow, achieving their full potential. To get there, I'll fight for individual liberty, lower taxes, limited government and making our Iowa education system the best in the nation.

Service is in my blood. Grandpa Rizer saved lives as a doctor at the Battle of the Bulge. Great Aunt Mary co-founded the Jane Boyd Community House and was president of the Social Faire League. Mom taught me Iowa values: tell the truth, do my best, serve others.

Carrying on this service tradition brought me to the Air Force Academy and a 25-year career as a fighter pilot and commander. My military service includes two combat tours, 15 moves and five years of family separation. After marrying my wife, Cheri, and celebrating the births of our children, my greatest honor was serving as commander of Andrews Air Force Base, the home of Air Force One. I was responsible for 60,000 people, balanced a $252 million budget and supported critical national security missions. My team earned recognition as the top Air Force-led joint base in the Dept. of Defense.

After leaving the service and coming home to Linn County, I joined a local non-profit. I'm proud to say I help homeless veterans and people with disabilities achieve their full potential through the power of work.

I'm not a politician, but a proven leader who is committed to the Iowa values I learned from my family. I won't just tell the truth, but will do the right thing when nobody is looking. I will treat colleagues, opponents and citizens with respect. I understand the people will be my boss, and they deserve principled representation.

I want to serve Iowans doing what I do best, leading teams to solve problems. In the same way I generated consensus among state legislators, school board members and teachers to open the nation's first on-base charter school, I will work with colleagues to resolve our state's priority issues. These include fixing our roads, reducing taxes, caring for seniors/veterans, and ensuring those with mental health or other disabilities don't fall through the cracks.

This is my commitment to you. I'm asking for your vote on Nov. 4.

' Ken Rizer is the Republican candidate for Iowa House, District 68. Comments: rizerforhouse@outlook.com