Rural Iowans a top priority for governor hopeful Norris

By Kelly Terpstra, kterpstra@charlescitypress.com

Democratic candidate for governor John Norris says he stands strong for rural Iowans.

Norris made the trek to Charles City on Friday for a stop at Aromas Coffee and an informative meet-and-greet to lay down his platform ideas for interested voters.

Norris’ message is clear —  he’s got your back, Charles City.

“I am unapologetically passionate about rural Iowa,” said Norris, who was former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack’s chief of staff and has held several administrative positions.

Norris is making his rounds across the state, focusing on rural communities and how he can bridge the gap between the haves and the have-nots.

“You all familiar with Einstein’s definition of insanity? If we do the same thing in 2018 that we have done in the last three election cycles — trying to make up for increasing losses in rural Iowa by doubling down in the urban centers and expect to win — we’re crazy,” said Norris.

He said that National Public Radio reported that suicide rates for farmers in the Midwest are higher than that of returning veterans dealing with post traumatic stress disorder. That led into his stance on mental health in the Hawkeye state.

“We’re in a crisis state with our mental health system,” said Norris. “Just recognizing the problem is not enough. You have to do something about it.”

Norris touched on a vast array of issues in this, his third trip to Charles City. He said he wants to reverse the privatization of Medicaid, which he said has been a disaster for many families.

He said he is especially concerned about the underfunding of schools, which has led to quality teachers looking for jobs elsewhere and leaving the state. He also said the stripping of the collective bargaining rights of teachers in Iowa doesn’t help, either.

“There’s no silver bullet. But you know if you don’t have good schools and good hospitals you can turn the lights out,” he said.

Low wages for jobs has prevented Iowa from keeping up with other states in terms of retaining and attracting valuable work force talent and skills, according to Norris.

“Minnesota is campaigning right now in their Democratic primary saying ‘let’s not become Iowa,’” he said.

Norris, who grew up on a family farm in southwest Iowa near Red Oak, once again hearkened to what he called the backbone of the state — its rural population.

“We can’t win back the governor’s race and we can’t win back the Legislature unless we as Democrats show up, reconnect with rural Iowans with a policy agenda to rebuild Iowa’s future,” he said.

The party primaries will take place on Tuesday, June 5. The Democratic nominee will face Republican incumbent Gov. Kim Reynolds, who gained the position when former Gov. Terry Branstad resigned to become ambassador to China. The general election will be Nov. 6.

Norris is running in a field of at least six Democratic candidates for the nomination. Other candidates are Fred Hubbell, Nate Boulton, Cathy Glasson, Andy McGuire and Ross Wilburn.

Norris helped run Jesse Jackson’s 1988 presidential campaign in Iowa. When Vilsack became secretary of agriculture under President Obama, Norris was chosen by Obama as commissioner of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Norris has also been chairman of the Iowa Utilities Board and chief of staff at the U.S. Department of Agriculture under Vilsack. He also worked as an aide for longtime former Sen. Tom Harkin for three years in the 1980s.