The Gazette
October 28th, 2012
Letters to the Editor

I came away from a recent forum sponsored by the League of Women Voters aware that there is a distinct difference between the concerns of the two candidates and between their visions of what life in Iowa should be.

Art Staed’s opponent’s responses focused on tinkering with the organization chart of the state’s government, on making programs and actions fit into little boxes assigned to places on the chart. Her responses primarily did not deal with the people and their needs, not with a vision for a good life in Iowa, not with preparing for a brighter future. She seemed to be a mechanic working on a piece of machinery. She even will not support improved railroad transportation in Iowa because of a decade-long personal grudge against Amtrak.

Staed’s responses, on the other hand, focused on making Iowa a better place to live, on providing a better educated and trained workforce for our future and on making effective assistance readily available to those needing it. Iowans living in a decent, caring, mutually supportive, prosperous society were the focus of Staed’s concerns and comments.

Preparation for a better tomorrow for Iowa’s people is what motivates Staed. He emphasized working together in the legislature to enrich Iowa’s future, not the blind acquiescence to ideological confrontation of his opponent. He has been an effective bipartisan legislator and will be again.

Join me in electing Staed to the Iowa House of Representatives, District 66.

Peter H. Jaynes