EDITOR’S NOTE — This is the second of a two-part look at the contested race for Iowa House District 14, which includes Floyd, Mitchell and part of Cerro Gordo counties.

Voters in District 14 have been getting to know Jeffrey Lynn Mosiman this election year, and Mosiman wants them to know they have a choice come Nov. 4 in who and how they are represented in the Iowa House of Representatives.
Republican Mosiman of rural Nora Springs is challenging incumbent Mark Kuhn in next Tuesday’s General Election.
Mosiman, 41, and his wife Shelley have one son, age 13. He is the owner of JSG Builders and a substitute teacher for the Charles City Community School District. Prior to going back to college, he was employed by Fastenal Company in Mason City and Rapid City, S.D. for 11 years, ending his service as an operations manager in Mason City.
From 1987-1990, Mosiman served in the United State Air Force (Ellsworth AFB, S.D.), before which he was employed at Tradehome Shoes from 1985-1987.
Mosiman holds an AA degree from North Iowa Area Community College, graduating in 2004, as well as a BA in history (social sciences) from Buena Vista University (Magna Cum Laude – 3.83 GPA) through the Mason City Center in December 2006. That same year he also earned his Coaching Certificate from NIACC and in 2008 completed his Masters Degree from Norwich University (Summa Cum Laude – 3.77 GPA) in Political Science, with a concentration in terrorism focusing on the Middle East and Southeast Asian conflict zones.
Each candidate was asked to respond to a Press questionnaire designed to help voters gain a better appreciation and understanding before they cast their ballots on Nov. 4. The answers are as the candidate’s submitted them:
  Why are you running for the Iowa House of Representatives?
Over the past two years the State House and Senate have increased spending by a billion dollars and raised taxes by half a billion. They have shorted essential programs like Medicaid, community colleges, the Senior Living Trust Fund and reduced the amount available for the Homestead Tax Credit.
This fiscal irresponsibility jeopardizes Iowa’s financial stability and will most certainly require that Iowans shell out more money to maintain current levels of services. A return to common sense ideals is required at a time when Governor Culver has had to ask for a bailout from the federal government for the recent fiscal mismanagement.
They have also threatened to repeal our Right-to-Work Law with the misnamed “fair-share” legislation (SF413) and sought to impose another level of bureaucracy by granting unions virtually unlimited power with the collective bargaining bill (HF2645), which would have led to a massive property tax increase, increased local insurance rates and stripped local elected authority from school boards, city councils, and county supervisors, further expanding union boss control over public employees. HF2645 was so egregious that Gov. Culver was forced to veto it after a bipartisan outcry from local elected leaders.

  What do you feel qualifies you above others for this position?
I’ve worked in construction for the past five years and I’ve worked with everyday Iowans across the state, so I know that most people are better qualified to spend, save or invest the money they earn than bureaucrats and politicians in Des Moines.
I’ve spent the past year listening to the concerns of people in the district and I have pledged to make myself available 24/7 by providing my home and cell phone numbers for the people to contact me at anytime about any issue. This is something my opponent has not done. I also have promised to respond to all questions, again something my opponent has not done.

  What are your TOP 3 priority issues for this position, and why?
The following three issues are:
Taxes — Iowa currently has the fifth highest corporate tax structure in the country. Businesses will not relocate to a state that is not business friendly. Iowa is also the sixth highest in personal property taxes. It is no wonder why Iowans are having such a rough time making ends meet.
If we do not address these two issues with regards to property taxes, our state will face a similar situation to that of Michigan, New York or Ohio. Therefore our current tax structure must be addressed.
Education — I’m concerned about the passage of HF611 which seeks to teach kindergartners about STDs. My opponent voted for this legislation.
As a certified teacher, I think the schools should focus on making sure students are prepared to face a challenging world. Over the past two years our district has suffered teacher cuts. Recently St. Ansgar gave 13 teachers the “pink slip” for lack of funding from the legislature. Our small schools are under assault; therefore our values are under assault. I will work to address the situation so schools like R-R-MR don’t vanish because we had to give Principal Group $750,000 for a skywalk in Des Moines approved by this legislature: including Rep. Kuhn.
Right-to-Work — I would protect workers’ freedom of choice both in non-union and union shops. Without a mechanism to hold leaders accountable, the everyday worker gets brushed aside and forgotten about. Freedom of choice should never be rescinded regardless of the issue, including the Right-to-Work.
The so-called “fair share” bill (SF413) is predicated on the idea that non-union members receive the benefits of the union contract without paying for it, but the fact is they have no choice but to accept the union bosses as their exclusive bargaining agents so it’s not exactly fair to accuse them of “free riding.”
If the argument really were about “fair share” then the Democrats and my opponent would not have voted against the three amendments that allowed non-members to “opt out” of the union contract.

  How do you think the Iowa legislature is currently perceived by the general public?
I think most people correctly perceive the current Legislature is too interested in spending money on special projects than addressing the concerns of everyday Iowans.
People are outraged when they learn the Legislature voted $120,000 for decorative planters in Des Moines while slashing the funding for a school for the deaf and a school for the blind. They are upset that the 62-year-old Right-to-Work Law is under assault. They are livid because, as a property owner in Rudd I met with told me, her property tax went from $285 for fiscal 2006 to $800 for 2007 after the current Legislature’s spending spree.

  How can you ensure the people and interests of Floyd County are best represented in Des Moines?
As a lifelong Iowan and a rural resident, I uniquely understand the delicate balance rural communities have in both luring jobs and retaining the current jobs like Winnebago.
While the county offered many incentives the state should also be partners with local communities in developing programs to increase the workforce by providing the same tax relief issues for Winnebago as were provided to Microsoft in their deal to open an operation in Des Moines. Of course, any program should be available for small businesses, not just big ones like Microsoft and Winnebago.

  What role do you see the legislature having in the recovery process from the record floods and tornadoes of 2008?
We currently have a rainy day fund just for emergencies and should start withdrawing some funds to offset costs for those who lost everything and still have responsibilities for properties that they no longer inhabit.
I think the Legislature should dip into the rainy day fund and spend some of the $641 million dollars to help Iowans. Furthermore, Governor Culver should have suspended property taxes allowing those most severely affected the ability to relocate without having to worry about making rent payments, house payments and property tax payments. What good is the rainy day fund if we don’t spend it on rainy days but dip into it for bureaucratic pet projects and boondoggles?

  The state had budget woes prior to the flooding and tornadoes of 2008 – how do you see the Legislature handling this?
Spending more in the last two years than the previous administrations did over the last decade has put Iowa in a no-win situation. The CATO Institute just released their annual report regarding governors and only two governors rated lower than Governor Culver with who received an “F.”
The expanding tax structures, both personal and corporate, signal a bleak future for Iowa. It is the Legislature’s job to curtail this spending; creating an atmosphere that fosters growth and financially stability. Over the past two years the Legislature has done everything but their jobs, agreeing to give Governor Culver everything he has asked for.
According to an analysis prepared by the nonpartisan Legislative Services Agency, the $552.9 million dollar increase in spending over the past two years with limited increase of incoming revenue has seriously undermined Iowa’s financial future.

  What do you see as your biggest challenge as Floyd County’s representative and how do you plan to on addressing it?
The biggest challenge for any rural county is how to draw and then retain well paying jobs. This takes effort from both the local and state levels.
Currently only four states have higher corporate tax rates than Iowa. This was no more evident than with the state’s over the top tax relief that Microsoft received to lure their business to Iowa.
If Iowa addresses this issue, I believe that Iowans’ strong work habits will entice businesses to the state and increase job opportunities for Iowans.

  And finally, why, as a voter, should I cast a vote for you?
For the past 10 years Mark has been in the Iowa House, but it has been over the past two years, when he has been in the majority, that he has had a chance to demonstrate how his choices for Iowa’s future would improve our lives: he failed.
He voted to reduce the Homestead Tax Credit, he voted to gut our Right-to-Work Law, he voted for the collective bargaining bill that stripped control away from local officials. He also voted against the elimination of the income tax on pensions which would have greatly benefited senior citizens and he has said he will vote for the “Tile Tax” bill that house Democrats are pushing as measure to balance the 569.3 million dollar shortfall in next year’s budget. This bill is going to raise farmers’ taxes based on tiled land improvements. The list goes on and on.
These are some of the actions that do not signal Iowan values. As your representative, common sense has to be part of a representative’s principles. I fully understand the challenges that we face both in commitment to family and financial issues that affect Iowa’s families during these trying times. I will work at the behest of families and citizens and not bow to the lobbyists’ demands that adversely affect our daily lives or freedom of choice.

 Any other brief comments you would like to meet?
It is time that responsible leadership concerning financial matters takes precedence over preferential lobbyist treatment. That is why I am asking for you vote.
I will work to protect your money and your family’s financial future. I will read all proposed legislation before voting on it to ensure that benefits families instead of penalizing them. I will be available at all times whether through my home or cell phone. I hope you choose to entrust your futures with my leadership.