Letter to the Editor: Support Jan Heikes for State Senate

Jan Heikes

(Leslie Sand of Decorah has submitted the following letter in support of Jan Heikes for State Senate):

I am writing to encourage voters to know Jan Heikes, candidate for Iowa Senate District 28, covering Allamakee, Clayton, and most of Fayette and Winneshiek counties.

Jan is concerned about what's happening to Iowa's mental health services (rated the worst in the nation), our water quality (ranked the second worst in the nation), and our public education (ignored by our governor and his party). She supports renewable energy jobs and tax credits. She knows that climate change is real and here. She wants to change the influence that the master matrix system has on CAFOs (confined animal feeding operations) so that they cannot overburden our air and water quality. She wants to work to build a better future for all of northeast Iowa's families and children.

Jan grew up in rural Kansas with small-town Midwestern roots and values. She is a social worker, working specifically in the areas of mental health and disabilities. She has worked within the Northeast Iowa multi-county area with county supervisors, state agencies and funding streams to bring cost-effective help to Northeast Iowans.

When faced with declining funding streams for needed services, she worked  with service providers to switch to federal monies, keeping services costs low and bringing more federal dollars to NE Iowa.

Currently she works in Des Moines with the Department of Human Services to ensure these same systems are available within communities across the state to the clients and their families that need them. She knows how to listen to all points of view and will work to find the best solution that works for the most people.

She is a hard-working advocate and all of us in Northeast Iowa can benefit, if you will  join me in voting for Jan Heikes for Iowa Senate.