Reynolds and Gregg visit MP Rotary

MT. PLEASANT — Mt. Pleasant Noon Rotary club welcomed Gov. Kim Reynolds and Lt. Gov. Adam Gregg Wednesday afternoon.

Reynolds’ visit came the day after primary elections.

The Governor, however, focused on what has happened within her time as government thus far, before moving to talking about more current events.

“I certainly didn’t think when I sign up and took the oath to become the governor of Iowa it would start with flooding and droughts and tornadoes,” Reynolds said. “And we’d move right into a worldwide pandemic, and in between that we had a couple of derechos, and I didn’t even know what a derecho was, had to look that up.”

“You name it we faced it,” she said. “But the strength compassion, and honestly the resilience of Iowans has been on full display and just continues to inspire us every day. I truly hope I don’t have anything that starts with unprecedented the next couple of years.

“We meet these headwinds head on and come out stronger on the other side,” Reynolds said.

Reynolds gushed about her pride in Iowans and shared that when the governors gather it is commonly a competition of who can find the best news about their state.

With a desire to bring more people to Iowa, Reynolds’ and her team began a nationwide campaign advertising “This is Iowa.”

The multimedia campaign utilizes moments from the Field of Dreams event last summer.

According to Reynolds, the event was an opportunity to showcase a small snippet of what Iowa looks like, and was a good example to include.

“It was magic. Nothing went wrong. Even the sunset.” the governor said. “And the game and a walk-off home run and it just did so much for baseball that night and just the nostalgia.”

She continued to brief the room about various work she had been accomplishing including the tax cuts she recently signed.

“This is my mom and dad’s favorite part of the historic tax cut I just passed,” Reynolds said. “Starting next year we’re no longer going to tax your retirement income.”

Schools were discussed in relation to apprenticeship programs that will allow students and para educators to work or study as they earn the experience necessary to be a certified paraprofessionals and substitute teachers.

Taking some questions from the audience, Reynolds addressed issues concerning child care and gun safety.

Mt. Pleasant Area Chamber Executive Vice President Kristi Perry brought some concerns about child care to the attention of the governor.

As soon as Perry began expressing her concerns the Governor stepped away from her podium to grab a pen to take notes.

“I can talk to Kelly [the head of the Department of Human Services],” Reynolds responded to Perry.

As Perry finished, Reynolds repeated the concerns back to her, and moved on to another question concerning gun safety in the wake of the recent mass shootings.

“In 2018 working with the legislature we made sure that every single building and school in Iowa has in place a high quality plan, emergency plan for active shooters and natural disasters,” she said. “So, not only do they have to have a high quality plan in place, but it had to address both of those.”

Additionally, the plans must be certified with the Department of Education, and each school must hold a table talk annually to ensure everyone is on the same page and that needed training is required.

According to Reynolds, Tuesday’s press conference should cover additional steps that are being taken for school safety including risk assessments for each school.

Reynolds also ensured that background checks are being reviewed at this time.

“There’s not a single answer,” she said. ‘We can’t just point to one thing and say that is the answer. I think, sometimes people just have evil in their hearts, and there is nothing we can do to stop it.“

Comments: AnnaMarie.Ward@southeastiowaunion.com