Republican Dennis Guth of Klemme is seeking re-election to a third term in the Iowa Senate, District 4. He is unopposed in the Nov. 3 General Election.
Guth is the owner/operator of Guth Farms, Inc. He currently serves on the Appropriations, Commerce, Ethics Labor & Business Relations and Local Government Committees in the Senate.
District 4 includes voters in Hancock, Wright, Winnebago, Kossuth and Emmet Counties.
Why am I running for reelection to the Iowa Senate?
Eight years ago, I decided to run for the Senate to uphold and defend Biblical principles in government. Our country was founded on those principles and, as a result, has prospered more than any country in history. Some of these principles are: all men being created equal; if you do not work, you do not eat; treat your neighbor as you want to be treated; be responsible for your actions; parents are responsible for their children’s education; all of us are ultimately accountable to God.
I am a lifelong resident of this district. I have farmed near Klemme for 43 years and understand the ups and downs of agriculture. I am interested in farming improvements such as improved drainage and water quality. I am not intimidated by technology and its application to any practical use. I am a problem solver and can think outside the box. I have learned that listening is the most important part in helping meet people’s needs.
Now that I have eight years of experience in the Senate, I want to put that experience to work promoting religious liberty, keeping government small, and critically thinking and researching facts rather than accepting established messaging. I want to inspire people to get to know their constitutional rights and actively protect them.
Legislation I plan on introducing deals with maintaining our First Amendment rights. Those include free exercise of religion and sovereignty over our own bodies (no mandates for vaccines, for example). I believe in protecting life from conception to natural death and will support any legislation that advances that cause. I am working on Ag drainage laws and am looking into legislation that protects animal owners from animal rights zealots.
Do Iowa’s Ag drainage laws need to be updated?
Our current drainage laws are mostly over 30 years old and our drainage infrastructure was implemented 100 years ago, when much of our farmland was pasture. I had some proposed changes last session that didn’t get worked out. I have been working with two of the founders of Iowa’s Drainage District Association during this interim. I am focusing on the need for better communication among landowners in assessing needs for repairs and improvements. Drainage is essential to both farming profitably and preserving the quality of our water.
Pandemic response:
Iowa’s economy has been challenged by covid-19 and as a result, consumption patterns have been changed. Eating at home more and eating out much less disrupted the flow of commodities from farm to consumer. Those adjustments in the supply chain are being made and the overall economy should recover well. The National Council of State Legislatures (NCSL) has rated Iowa’s economy the most covid-19 resistant in the country. There are businesses that have been badly hurt and some will not recover. However, other businesses have thrived. People still need to eat and our agriculturally based economy will improve. With the shift to work from home, it will be easier for people in rural communities to compete via internet for jobs traditionally held by urban residents. One point in our favor is that Iowa has more fiber optics in the ground than any state in the nation.
What is your stand on state and local incentives to business that want to move or expand in our areas?
Government’s job is to protect our God given rights, not to redistribute wealth. It is my job to make sure government does not get in the road of our individual rights and free enterprise. I believe personal incentive and hard work should be rewarded, not unduly taxed. I have worked the past 4 years to make Iowa a more attractive place for business.
One tool that is available to local governments is Tax Increment Financing. TIF allows a local government to use all new property tax dollars generated by an increase in property value of the new business for infrastructure supporting that business. For example, the increase in property taxes from a new ethanol plant could be used for improving roads or other infrastructure that supports that enterprise. TIF is limited to only a few years, and then the new tax dollars are allocated like all other property taxes. Economic Development experts claim this is the most important thing we can do to bring business into our area.
Do our schools have adequate support from the State as they strive to provide quality education and safety for students during this pandemic?
I’ve had a number of people ask if schools will be returning some of their money, since they are not providing full time, in person education. I don’t expect that to happen, but with the pandemic reducing our state revenues, schools will have to be creative in how they use their money. I’ve also had inquiries into having state education dollars follow the student as more parents look at non-public options for educating their children. That option has been looked at before and will be given new consideration in this environment.
Do you have confidence in the election integrity of Iowa?
I have great confidence in the integrity of our elections where counties have not sent out absentee ballot requests with information prefilled on the forms. That is prohibited by the state, but a few urban counties have taken it on themselves to defy the law and send out request forms with the voters identification already entered. That opens the door to fraud. The rural counties of my district can be assured of their vote being secure. I encourage persons with concerns about voting on Election Day to vote early in person or return their absentee ballots in person to the county Auditor’s office.
Other comments.
The people of District 4 have a great work ethic and are optimistic. This area has fertile soils and well developed infrastructure, which includes roads, renewable fuel production, and great internet. I will support policies that promote industry, agriculture and free enterprise. We have a difficult time retaining the younger people because, as farms grow larger, and many young people find the risk and time involved in farming very challenging. For those who want to farm, finances can become a roadblock. Recreational opportunities can be limited as well. I will focus on legislation that encourages the retiring farmer to connect with those younger people who are looking for opportunities to enter agriculture. I will emphasize that we have opportunities in manufacturing and service industries. There is a great demand for technicians, welders, plumbers and electricians, as well as healthcare providers and I will work to reduce the needless burdens hindering job creation.
