Prichard schedules Saturday ‘listening posts’ in Marble Rock, Nora Springs

By James Grob, jgrob@charlescitypress.com

Rep. Todd Prichard, D-Charles City, the Iowa House minority leader, will meet with the public at listening posts in Nora Springs and Marble Rock on Saturday.

“I’ll be at the Nora Springs City Hall and Marble Rock Community Center on Saturday to hear what’s important to you,” Prichard said in a release.

He encouraged people to attend and share their thoughts on the 2020 Iowa legislative session, which opened on Monday at the state Capitol. The event at Nora Springs City Hall is scheduled to start at 9:30 a.m. and the event at the Marble Rock Community Center is scheduled to start at 11 a.m.

Prichard, who owns Prichard Law Office in Charles City, was chosen as minority leader when the House Democratic caucus met before the 2019 legislative session. He represents Iowa House District 52, which consists of Floyd, Chickasaw and the eastern third of Cerro Gordo counties.

Prichard was unopposed in the 2018 election, and started serving his fourth term in the Iowa House last year. As minority leader, he is the chief spokesperson for the party on issues, and assigns Democratic members to committees. He is also the political leader for the Iowa House Democrats.

On Monday at the capital, Prichard said the session can be a success this year if lawmakers work together and keep focused on Iowans.

“As we go into another legislative session, I’m honored to serve my friends and neighbors in the Iowa House of Representatives for another year” said Prichard.  “Instead of partisan gridlock and doing what’s best for the special interests, the 2020 session must be focused on improving the lives of everyday Iowans.”

Prichard said he intends to focus the 2020 session on “bringing better jobs to the community through increased job training and affordable child care; improving health care by lowering the cost of prescription drugs and increasing access to mental health care; making Iowa schools No. 1 in the nation again and expanding early childhood education; and revitalizing small towns and rural areas by investing in small businesses and increasing access to affordable housing for families.”