Iowa House District 8 candidates shares views
One of few contested races in the area for General Election on Nov. 3 is the District 8 Iowa House of Representatives seat. Candidates are incumbent Terry Baxter (R) of Garner and challenger Glenn Kiss (D) of Forest City.
District 8 includes the following counties: Hancock, Wright and a portion of Kossuth County. The Monitor invited both candidates to share their views on the following topics: agriculture, economic development, education, public health/safety, and election integrity.
Terry Baxter
Terry Baxter is the co-founder of the non-profit GoServ Global. He currently serves on the agriculture, economic growth, environmental protection, government oversight (vice chair) and natural resources committees. He also is vice chair on the International Relations Committee.
Why are you running for reelection for the Iowa House of Representatives? What are your qualifications?
The past six years have groomed me to be effective for my constituents. I have several important bills I am working on in the area’s of criminal justice reform, drainage issues for Local farmers, protecting 2nd Amendment rights and quality education curriculum. I have solid convictions, a listening ear, good working relationships within both parties in Des Moines and a sincere desire to put the needs of Iowa first in forming good public policy.
Agriculture
Do Iowa’s drainage laws need to be updated?
Drainage is our number one issue to complete this session. I introduced a bill last year that was compiled with four others. The conclusion was that the drainage law code is so old and archaic it needs to be totally redone and brought up to modern time. The COVID-19 crisis put this on hold. This issue is of paramount importance to approximately 10 counties in North Central Iowa.
Finding ongoing and sustainable funding for water quality in Iowa is also a concern, while at the same time working on good conservation efforts and wildlife habitat development. It doesn’t have to be either agriculture or conservation. We can and must do both. We are the world leader in agriculture. We are lagging the nation in public land development and access. We need to discuss ways to do water quality projects that addresses habitat development at the same time.
I believe the solution is in this discussion. We also need to recognize that Iowa is a very diverse state. What works in Northeast or South Iowa, will not be good policy in the bread belt of North-central Iowa. A comprehensive and effective plan must consider local conditions.
Economic Development:
The pandemic has affected our rural communities. How would you advocate for funding or support for our rural areas at the state level?
We need a balance between business support and unemployment relief while at the same time not giving workers an incentive to stay home by giving more government relief for not working than stepping into the work force again. It’s time to move forward and get back to work.
What is your stand on state and local incentives to businesses that want to move or expand in our areas?
We compete with many other states for attracting new factories and business investment. We need effective tax credits that keeps Iowa competitive at the negotiation table while eliminating old incentives that no longer serve a purpose.
Iowa is a great place to live and do business. We are #1 in many area’s such as cost of living and general friendliness and civility. We do need to focus more on life-style issues such as recreation opportunities and public land development.
This is one reason why I support the “I Will” initiative. It will supply ongoing funds for needed development while also addressing water quality issues.
Education
•Do our schools have adequate support from the State as they strive to provide quality education and safety for students and staff during this pandemic?
Education in Iowa annually receives more than 40% of the states budget. As the state budget grows, so does our investment in education.
Quality education also means we need to focus on exceptional curriculum that is not driven by liberal ideologies or special interest groups that are trying to use the class rooms to rewrite history or reshape our county. If there is not immediate attention to this problem, there will be an exodus from our public schools. I lament that trend, but parents are frustrated.
I support choice in education and believe competition can drive the pursuit of excellence and force educators to re-evaluate their priorities.
Public Health/Safety:
Our greatest challenge to quality health services in rural Iowa relates to access. We need to find ways to attract quality and gifted health professionals to rural areas. With the riots and hateful demonstrations in urban areas, many young medical professionals are starting to return to the safe haven of rural Iowa. I am thankful for this trend.
At the same time, we need to change our laws to grant nurse practitioners, physician assistants, licensed specialists and on line medical care more latitude in rural Iowa. This is especially true in the area of mental health care. I support these changes.
When it comes to public safety, we need to support our local law enforcement officers. I believe in quality training, modern equipment and accountability for ethical behavior and treating suspects with respect and dignity. We need to remove bad actors and celebrate our outstanding peace offers.
I support our local men and women who put their lives on the line for public safety every day. I utterly reject the irrational “defund the police” movement and the “anti-law enforcement agenda.” I believe in law and order.
Election Integrity
Do you have confidence in the integrity of elections in Iowa?
I believe if the efforts put in place by Republicans in Des Moines in recent years for election integrity were implemented and followed to the letter, we would have election integrity in Iowa. I reject the noise from the left that these efforts in any way disenfranchise voters or restrict voting access in any way to any group.
Voting in our state is a privilege for citizens of the United States who are legitimate residents of the State of Iowa. Unfortunately, there is voter fraud in Iowa. Anyone convicted of voter fraud should be charged with a felony and loose voting rights for the rest of their life.
Voting integrity is the corner stone of our democracy. If we fail to protect it, we empower corruption and forfeit the will of the people.
Glenn Kiss
Glenn Kiss, Forest City, is a radio announcer for KIOW FM.
Why are you running for election for the Iowa House of Representatives? What are your qualifications?
I’m running because Iowa’s legislature needs a fresh perspective. If we continue to re-elect the same legislators, the same thing will keep happening. Iowa voters are asking for action. Iowans want progress, and it won’t happen if we continue to re-elect the same people.
Any American has the qualifications to come forward and serve in this capacity. I bring with me a wealth of life experience. I have an Associate of Arts Degree. I have the ability to stand up and fight for Iowans.
Agriculture
Do Iowa’s drainage laws need to be updated?
I would need more research/information to make a final decision. That decision would be based on what the constituents ask me to do. However, the legislature has bigger fish to fry.
Economic Development:
The pandemic has affected our rural communities. How would you advocate for funding or support for our rural areas at the state level?
I would advocate for funding by participating in the discussion and debate. One of the ways to advocate is to bring forward those who are most affected and let them tell their stories. Words on a paper do not have the same effect. Local economies have been devastated by the pandemic and will take quite some time to recover even with support and funding from the state.
What is your stand on state and local incentives to businesses that want to move or expand in our areas?
Incentives are not inherently bad. In the world economy, incentives are a necessary evil. If businesses are not offered incentives, those businesses take their tax dollars and jobs elsewhere. I think the issue for Iowans is how much the incentives are costing local and state governments.
Education
Do our schools have adequate support from the State as they strive to provide quality education and safety for students and staff during this pandemic?
Our schools do not have adequate support from the state. The pandemic brings with it extraordinary challenges. But, Iowa’s education system, as a whole, is in peril.
Iowa used to be top of the nation in education and that is no longer the case. The legislature seems to spend each session debating how little funding they will give to schools. Educators have received unclear and contradictory information as to how to proceed safely. Education will be a priority of mine in the legislature.
Public Health/Safety
The pandemic has shined a light on public health in Iowa. There is no handbook for navigating a pandemic and our public health department has been sincere in its mission. There have been shortcomings by the state in dealing with the pandemic. The bigger picture is that we have rural hospitals closing and services cut.
Election Integrity
Do you have confidence in the integrity of elections in Iowa?
Yes.
