(Spencer)– The two Republican candidates vying for the House District 6 seat to represent the Iowa Great Lakes and Spencer in the state legislature sounded off on a number of issues at a candidate’s forum Wednesday evening in Spencer.
Zach Whiting and Jeff Smith…both of Spirit Lake and both Republicans…are the only two that filed for the seat.
Whiting, a recent college graduate who studied political science, says he can bring some fresh concepts to Des Moines. Whiting added he isn’t afraid to go up against the establishment and shaking things up.
Smith, a former lakes area banker, says he’s more seasoned and better rounded for the job, adding that he grew up on a farm near Pocahontas during the farm crisis of the 1980’s.
Bringing Iowa back to number one in the nation in education was among the topics the two sounded off on. Smith says it’s time for new standards, accountability and local control on curriculum.
Whiting says it’s time to pare down schools and administrators, going to more of a county or regional approach. He says more of an emphasis needs to be placed on educating students, not “lining the pockets of Superintendents”. Whiting added “we need to cut the stranglehold teacher’s unions and AEAS have on our state”. He added merit standards need to be set for teachers, admitting such a move would be highly controversial.
The state’s budget situation, same sex marriage, illegal immigration, philosophies of the Republican party, the environment and recruiting and retaining physicians were other topics the two candidates addressed. We’ll hear their comments on those in upcoming days.
