decorahnews.com special series: State Assembly candidate Rick Edwards wants to look 100 years down the road

State Assembly candidate Rick Edwards says state government should be looking down the road to see what will be important 100 years from now.  "We need the long eye," he tells decorahnews.com.

Edwards is the Democratic Party candidate in Iowa House District 55, which includes most of Winneshiek County and parts of Fayette County and Clayton County. 

Edwards is the former Director of the Decorah Parks & Recreation Department for 19 years.  He says that experience has taught him the importance of fresh air, clean water and good soil.  "We need to be able to see over the horizon," he says, stressing the importance of investing in education and in natural resource preservation.

For instance, he criticizes Governor Terry Branstad's veto of REAP funding, saying the natural resources grants are "a tremendous program."  He also argues that a stable four percent increase in allowable growth for Iowa school districts is essential.

Edwards says 2114 "is not that far away" and pledges he would take that long view with him if he is elected to the Iowa Assembly.

(This concludes our three-part special series on the Iowa House District 55 election)