Character counts in House District 66 primary

Republican primary voters in Jones and Jackson Counties now find ourselves faced with a difficult decision to choose from two proven leaders to represent us in the Iowa House. I had viewed both as good men and leaders.

However, unfortunately for Rep. Lee Hein, this difficult decision became much easier for me when I received his first campaign piece in the mail. I can’t tell you how disappointed I became with Hein, beginning with his very first paragraph.

The accusations and innuendoes he directed toward Rep. Steve Bradley (the aforementioned good man and leader) was not what I anticipated nor expected from Hein at all! This is not Washington, D.C. politics, Lee. The politics of "personal destruction" don't work here. You make it sound like the only reason anyone should vote for you is because you're not Steve Bradley. It turned me off completely and I'm hopeful I've got plenty of company among Jackson and Jones County Republicans who still believe character and integrity count, not fast-pitch mudslinging.

I’ve known Steve Bradley for 37 years, when he first brought his dental practice to small town Cascade and became our family dentist. Throughout the following years we would see Steve and his wife Candy in church together, praying together and now in Des Moines together. My vote is for character, integrity and statesmanship.

Gene Manternach

Former State Representative

Cascade