The race for Iowa House District 55 this fall pits Democrat Roger Thomas against Republican Michael Klimesh.
Thomas is a seven-term state representative whose district now includes portions of Winneshiek County. Thomas is the Elkader Economic Development Director and Main Street Elkader Director. He is a graduate of Upper Iowa University with a degree in Public Administration.
Klimesh is the mayor of Spillville, a position he has held off and on for the last 14 years. Klimesh graduated from Luther College in 1991 with a degree in Political Science and has worked as the general manager of Graphics, Inc. from April 1998 to present.
Thomas touts the achievements of the legislature during the 14 years he has served. He says the legislature found $300 million in savings to the state budget by phasing out duplications. He also points to the legislature's action on solar energy credits.
Thomas also points out that he has fought cuts to the Iowa Workforce Development budget. He says he is trying to make sure the Decorah IWD office will stay open. "It's a fight every day to maintain (state) services in rural Iowa," he says.
Klimesh says he operates on the philosophy of "leaving it better than you found it." He says counties currently have little impact on DNR reviews of confinement operations. Klimesh also calls for limits on the amount of campaign donations that can be raised and require that it all comes from residents of the legislative district.
Klimesh says Iowa needs to do something about the condition of its roads. He says the state is spending $800 million less in road construction than it needs to. Klimesh recommends finding additional ways to fund road and bridge repairs.
On some issues the two candidates agree. Both agree that special interest groups have too large an influence on the state legislature. The two also support equal pay for equal work.