Tuesday’s Carroll Chamber of Commerce and Carroll County Growth Partnership (CCGP) forum highlighted the significant differences in policy between the two candidates running for the District 11 Iowa House of Representatives seat. The race features Republican Craig Williams of Manning, a former state senator, and Democrat Jeff Rich of Glidden. The contrast between the two became apparent soon into the second half of the forum, as the first question covered Iowa’s Educational Savings Account (ESA) program for students. Williams says he wasn’t in office when that bill was signed into law, but he helped lay some of the groundwork for school choice as a senator.
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Rich says private schools have always played an important role in Iowa’s education system, but he believes tax money should support public districts.
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Workforce availability has been a pressing issue across multiple industries in Iowa in recent years, and the candidates were asked what role the government should play in addressing those challenges. Rich says the solution is best left to the private sector.
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Williams says the best thing the state government can do is get out of the way and lower the effective tax rate.
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Thanks to a bill passed by the legislature in 2023, counties throughout the state were forced to limit their growth in Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 and in subsequent years. Candidates were asked if they thought the bill was effective and if changes were necessary. Williams says he liked the bill, but it hurt well-managed local governments like Carroll County.
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Rich says he is sure the law could use some adjustment but wants a little more time to acquaint himself with the issue before proposing changes.
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Tuesday’s forum featured eight other local candidates, and Carroll Broadcasting will bring you more from the other contested races in upcoming newscasts. Video from the forum is included with this story on our website.
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