Letter to the Editor

Dumont woman voting for a “fresh start”

Letter to the Editor:

     I watched the debates between Jack Hatch and Terry Branstad for governor of Iowa and I am going to vote for Jack Hatch because it is time for a fresh start.

     Terry Branstad has been governor for almost 20 years. What ever happened to term limits?

     After attending several public forums that Terry Branstad has held in the last two years, I have decided that he isn’t interested in improving education in Iowa. He states that he is working on improving education, yet cuts funding whenever possible. He has also failed to improve our roads and bridges, he lies about creating jobs here in Iowa, and paid hush money to state employees fired for political reasons.

     I can document these facts:

     1. Branstad’s administration wasted $720,000 in taxpayer funds on hush money to state employees fired for political reasons (Des Moines Register, June 25).

     2. The Branstad administration has injected politics into our courts by pressuring judges to rule in favor companies instead of state workers (Des Moines Register, Aug. 27).

     3. Instead of promoting job growth, Branstad created a false statistic to inflate his numbers and make for a failed campaign promise on job creation. (Cedar Rapis Gazette, Jan. 14).

     4. Under Branstad’s failed leadership, Iowa ranks just 37th in spending on public education. Our children deserve better. (Radio Iowa, Jan. 25).

     5. Iowa has the 3rd worst roads and bridges in the country. Branstad has failed at maintaining infrastructure needed for businesses to grow. (The Daily Iowan, June 30).

Ramona Melendy

Dumont