IN THE NEWS...

Courtesy: KTVO - November 20, 2005

 

Heartland Hears from Candidates  ( launch online video )

 

(FAIRFIELD, Iowa) It's never too early to start.

 

That was the idea for many local and state Democratic candidates Saturday night in Southeast Iowa. 

 

The Jefferson County Democratic Party held it's annual soup supper at the Fairfield Middle School. 

 

Candidates got ten minutes to speak and then fielded questions.

 

The event was twofold: candidates learned what issues matter to the constituency and the constituency learned about the candidates.

"I decided to run because I like helping people and I found you can really do that in this job. You can solve problems for people by contacting the right agency, putting them in contact with the right person," said Rep. John Whitaker running for State House.

"I've worked as a school social worker in the area for 27 years. I'm recently retired and I decided to serve the area in a different way," said Candidate for State Senate Becky Schmitz.

"One of the things is most important is that we have, it's gonna be farmer or citizen owned. The fact that corporations are owning our wind farms doesn't make me very comfortable. I think Iowans should own Iowa energy," said Secretary of Agriculture Candidate Denise O'Brien.

"It includes expanding conservation, taking better advantage of food that's grown right here in Iowa and also making a serious commitment to renewable energy and investing resources in expanding renewable energy in Iowa," said Secretary of Agriculture Candidate Dusky Terry.

"Well I want to lead the state I love to the greatness we all know is possible. I believe we can do that by building on our strengths: agriculture, education and manufacturing. I would also be the only governor in the nation who's served in the classroom in the last 20 years. I'm a public school teacher," said Gubernatorial Candidate Chet Culver.

"Always fought for people who have been cut out of government, cut out of the system of power, and a big part of the problem is there's so much money in politics and I refuse to take money from PAC's and lobbyists and big donors," said Gubernatorial Candidate Ed Fallon.

"He was sorta behind the Iowa values fund, which has created over 20,000 new jobs for Iowa, which average $37,000 a year and these jobs also have good benefits," said Gabe Whitaker speaking on behalf of gubernatorial candidate Mike Blouin.

 

Michael Mauro is running for Secretary of State. He has served as auditor for Polk County and feels it would be beneficial to have someone with auditor experience.

 

The field of candidates will be narrowed in June with Primaries.

 

-- Danielle Wagner, Reporting.