The Democratic candidates for Governor and Congress…Jack Hatch & incumbent Dave Loebsack, respectively…were the keynote speakers at last(Mon) night’s annual Des Moines-Henry County Labor Council Picnic in Burlington.
State Senator Tom Courtney warmed up the “troops” beforehand, with a warning about low turnout. He says Republicans are expecting Democrats not to vote in great numbers, so he urged everyone to grab five friends and fill out the ballots.
Hatch announced an idea we hadn’t hear before — requiring students to stay in school til the age of 18 or until they graduate from high school; whichever comes first. Veteran State Representative Dennis Cohoon was given a “Friend of Labor” award by the Council.
Local Congressman Dave Loebsack says his opponent…Mariannette Miller-Meeks of Ottumwa…is best known for two things: the first is telling a campaign crowd that the number one thing purchased by those on food stamps is Mountain Dew. And the second thing? According to Loebsack, paying off an employee of the Public Heath Department to keep quiet after Miller-Meeks had let her go.
Miller-Meeks has accused Loebsack of having a record of non-accomplishment in Washington…but he responded with examples of his work on behalf of veterans and the workforce. This is the third time Miller-Meeks has run against Loebsack; she lost to him in 2008 and 2010.
Hatch and Governor Terry Branstad will engage in their second-of-three debates…this one in Burlington…on Saturday, the 20th…at Edward Stone Middle School.
