Daily Newsletters
Account
Washington Evening Journal
111 North Marion Avenue
Washington, IA 52353
319-653-2191
Republican and Democrat candidates go head-to-head in Chamber forum
Mt. Pleasant Chamber Alliance hosted eight state legislative candidates for a forum
Southeast Iowa Union offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
MT. PLEASANT — State legislator candidates spoke on affordable housing, property taxes and representing Henry County residents at a general election forum hosted by the Mt. Pleasant Chamber of Commerce Government Relations Committee on Monday afternoon, Oct. 21.
While candidates participating the forum maintained decorum as they took turns answering questioned asked by Chamber of Commerce Executive Vice President Rachel Lindeen, that did not stop them from throwing some figurative punches during their timed answers.
“It's good to know that every Democrat here does not care about how high the property tax bill goes,” Republican and incumbent State Rep. Taylor Collins said. “I can say right now the four Republicans sitting here do care. We hear from you. You’ve heard it and we are providing that relief.”
Collins leaned into the Republican record for his argument defending this point as he stated that during his time of service to the state, Iowa went from being one of the states with the highest income tax rates in the country to one of the lowest.
On the other side of the issue, Jeff Poulter, a Democratic candidate for House District 95, commented on the need for taxes to provide services to counties such as libraries and emergency medical services. He argued that the job of elected officials should be to steward people’s money wisely.
“I know Burlington, they got a great library. I still like to hold a book and read it,” Poulter said. “So, I go to the library and, you know, they're worried about whether they can be open on Saturdays.”
Poulter then expressed concern that Mt. Pleasant’s library would face similar challenges.
“These communities do not have the funds to provide services if people want them,” he said.
When Lindeen asked the candidates how they would represent the Mt. Pleasant community if they do not live here, the candidates spokes about family ties, staying connected with community leaders, supporting the EMS bill, and showing understanding of recent events in the area.
Rep. Jeff Shipley, the Republican incumbent for House District 87, focused his answer on his family’s history in Mt. Pleasant and New London along with his relationships with people in the community. He stated that he continues a good relationship with the Mt. Pleasant Community School District Superintendent John Henriksen and frequently discusses topics of importance for the schools with him.
“I want to be a great representative,” Shipley said. “Whatever we're talking about here at a local level, I want to make sure we're bringing that conversation back to Des Moines and vice versa, that whatever we're talking about in Des Moines, I'm bringing that conversation back to you and getting your input and making sure you guys are in the driver's seat when we're making these important decisions.”
Democratic candidate for House District 87 Thomas O’Donnell answered the question by recounting the struggles seen in Henry County recently including the loss of Iowa Wesleyan University and “the hospital struggling under the new Medicaid rules.”
“I want to focus on solving problems, any one of these issues, my opponent, Mr. Shipley, could have focused on,” O’Donnell said. “What is he focusing on? He's focusing on tangential, sideshow, culture war issues, like transgender people. That's not what I want to do. I want to go to [the capitol] and represent Henry County by focusing on issues, on the problems that really affect everyday lives for people. The guy who leaves the warehouse at Walmart isn't coming home and worrying about the transgender person. He's worrying about how he's going to feed his family, how he's going to educate his kids, well, he's not focused on those issues.”
Other candidates present at the forum included Republican incumbent Adrian Dickey and opponent Independent Lisa Ossian, Republican incumbent Mark Lofgren and opponent Democrat John Dabeet.
O’Donnell, Shipley, and Poulter will join the Mt. Pleasant Community School District Board during a scheduled work session Monday, Oct. 28 at 6 p.m.
Comments: AnnaMarie.Kruse@southeastiowaunion.com
