MUSCATINE, Iowa — Iowa state Rep. Nathan Reichert, D-Muscatine, hopes to survive this election cycle to be around for another term in House District 80.

Trying to unseat him is Muscatine City Council member Robert Howard, a Republican who said he’ll apply the same “common-sense, business-type approach” to state government that he brought to the council.

Energy is one of Reichert’s top issues as he watches the surging interest in Iowa’s potential to become a leader in alternative energy production.

As chairman of the Internal Committee on Energy Efficiency, Reichert learned of many ways Iowa can produce energy from three of its most-abundant natural resources: wind, methane from livestock waste and grain.

The wind energy industry has already provided 2,400 jobs in Iowa, said Reichert, and Iowa has joined Texas and California as the highest wind-energy producers in the country.

Reichert took part in writing the first draft for the Iowa Power Fund in 2007. The $100 million fund will provide funding at the rate of $25 million annually the next four years to alternative energy projects.

Growing the energy industry will require an educated, healthy work force, and Reichert said the Legislature needs to provide opportunities for Iowa’s youth.

Iowa’s Health Care Reform Act, which calls for all Iowa children to be covered by health insurance by 2011 and all adults by 2013, is a step in the right direction, he said.

“To ensure our economy, we need to be sure all Iowans have health care,” said Reichert.

Ensuring all young Iowans will have the opportunity for a good education is another goal.

“We need 1,000 George Washington Carvers working in our laboratories across Iowa,” Reichert said.

Meanwhile, Reichert’s opponent, Howard, said the Legislature may benefit from his years of experience overseeing the financial end of a business.

“Muscatine is my home and I think this would be an opportunity for me to go to the state and accomplish something for the people,” Howard said.

Howard wants to see a restructuring of the Iowa Tax Code, which could result in lower taxes and favors keeping Iowa a right-to-work state.

“All of Iowa’s surrounding states have lower taxes than we do,” Howard said. “We would assist the common good of the people by lowering their taxes.”

Howard said the state’s population has been decreasing and said the higher taxes, coupled with the death tax, are two reasons why.

Continuing to strengthen Iowa’s educational opportunities is another priority, Howard said, to prepare youth for work in a global environment.

“If we’re going to compete, we need to be sure our kids are educated,” he said.

Howard, who grew up in a farming family, points out that agriculture accounts for 25 percent of the state’s economy and said he will be a proponent for protecting and enhancing the future of farmers. He said he would promote programs that incorporate cutting-edge developments in agriculture.

As a City Council member, Howard said he stood his ground on spending.

“My first year on council, if things weren’t needed, I’d vote against them, and the vote would be 6-1,” he said. “The second year, it was 5-2. This year, we went into budget and it went to a higher level. The vote was 4-3 and we created a whole new budget. If you don’t just play and bring a positive (attitude) to the table, you can get a lot accomplished.”

 

Cynthia Beaudette can be contacted at (563) 262-0527 or cynthia.beaudette@muscatinejournal.com.

Iowa House District 80

About the district: Includes city of Muscatine and Lake, Bloomington, Sweetland, Montpelier and Fulton townships.

Salary of the position: $25,000 per year

Cast your vote

Election: Nov. 4

Poll hours: 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. in Iowa

Last day to request absentee ballot: Oct. 31

For information on candidates, go to qctimes.com/elections

Robert E. Howard

Age: 60

Address: 802 Iowa Ave., Muscatine, Iowa

Party: Republican

Family: Wife, Nancy, five children

Education: Hayes Catholic High School, Muscatine, 1966.

Occupation: Owner of Heartland Business Solutions after 32-year career with Weber & Sons Button Co. Inc. in Muscatine.

Elected offices: Muscatine City Council since 2005; co-chairman Muscatine County GOP central committee; Muscatine County GOP executive board; member; Greater Muscatine Chamber of Commerce and Industry recruitment group; Muscatine Zoning Board of Adjustment; Muscatine Planning and Zoning Commission; Muscatine area geographical information consortium; Muscatine Museum of History and Industry exhibit group; U.S. 61 corridor study group.

Nathan Karl Reichert

Age: 38

Address: 1155 Iowa Ave., Muscatine, Iowa

Party: Democrat

Family: Wife, Rebecca Reichert, 33; sons, Simon, 6, and Spencer, 5; daughter, Ella, 5 months

Education: Muscatine High School, Class of 1988; bachelor’s degree in history from University of Northern Colorado, 1993; master’s in business administration, University of Iowa, 2003

Occupation: Community college instructor, teaching online economics

Elected office: State representative 2005-present