Candidates: Iowa House of Representatives District 56

Could you provide some background information about yourself that would help voters establish your connection to the area you are seeking to represent?

Bob Hager: My name is Bob Hager. My wife, Kristi, and I were both raised in Allamakee County, we were married in Hanover Township, and all three of our daughters graduated from the Allamakee Community School District. We have owned and operated Upper Iowa Resort & Rental for the last 14 years. We also are Directors of the Living Stone transitional living program. We have family in both Allamakee and Clayton counties.

Patti Ruff: I have grown up near McGregor and I am now raising my three sons there with my husband. I graduated from Mar-Mac High School and then worked my way through college at Loras in Dubuque. I have worked at the grain elevator in McGregor for over 16 years as an accounting clerk. I work with farmers every day and I understand how important agriculture is to our local and state economy. I also am the current School Board President of MFL Mar-Mac. Being on the school board for nine years, I not only know the challenges that are ahead for Iowa schools, but also the importance of a balanced budget and working to lower property taxes.

Small, rural communities like those in northeast Iowa seem to be in a constant struggle to not just thrive, but even survive. What hope can you give to residents of these types of communities in your district to want to remain here and live their lives?

Patti Ruff: My husband and I both grew up in northeast Iowa and we chose to raise our family here. I want my children to raise their own families here, so I know there is a lot at stake. We need to start thinking “out of the box” for economic sources. We need to realize there is no magic formula or just one factory or industry setting that will be the savior of our towns, like it has been in the past.
What’s going to sustain our communities are small businesses, new housing incentives, and spreading the word of what our small towns can offer. We need to make sure we have a climate that is conducive to creating small business ventures through a tax credit that would lower commercial property taxes without shifting the burden to other property owners. This would help grow our local economic structure and keep our profits in-state.
We need to continue to support our new housing developments, plus utilize the HUD program to its fullest potential.
Lastly, we need to take pride in our towns and spread the word! Create an aggressive ad campaign in urban areas promoting what we have to offer, i.e. low crime, quality of life, quicker commutes, and small town values.

Bob Hager: The hope that I can give to small area communities is the people and the way of life in those communities. The reason people always come back to this area is because the great people or families that live here and the unique opportunities that we have with our diverse farming and recreational lands. I also believe if our State government continues to improve its budgeting practices, we start building and saving any surplus money we have, we can decrease the taxation burden we place on individuals and business owners and they will begin to hire people or better yet, see an opportunity in the community and start a new business; ie WW Homestead Dairy, Aveka, or Kol Gol expanding.

What measures can be taken to ensure that the state of Iowa can weather the difficult economic times that this nation has been facing recently?

Bob Hager: We have already been making the hard decisions the past two years at the State House and have our budgets balanced, our rainy day funds full - which is required by law - and have been able to save $400 million and could potentially have $120 million in the new taxpayers trust fund after FY 2013. We just can’t be tempted to fall into the same practices of spending everything we have.

Patti Ruff: The State should do what we’ve done on the school board and that is to be prudent and fiscally responsible with taxpayer dollars. While Iowa has fared better than most in the economic downturn, we should always keep the state budget balanced and keep our savings accounts full if tough times hit again.

Ongoing budget cuts have forced county and city governments to tighten their belts considerably. How would you propose to balance the state budget without handing any further burdens down to lower levels of government or the citizens of this state?

Patti Ruff: As a school board member, I know how tough it is to balance the budget in difficult economic times. Now that Iowa’s economy has turned the corner, it’s important we reduce the burden shifted to local property taxpayers with improved, stable school funding from the State. We also need to make sure our communities have the resources they need to function as efficient but useful town and city governments.

Bob Hager: It is a good practice that all involved tighten their belts and I think most have been doing that. Some can do more. My main goal at the State level is that we don’t spend more than we take in and promise more to any particular program and force a school district or local government to raise our property taxes to cover a shortfall that has been promised from the State. In all that we do, we have to keep the taxpayer in mind.

What do you see as this state’s greatest challenge in education?

Bob Hager: I believe the state's greatest challenge in education is plain and simple, the breakdown of the family. Our parents are busy working, our children are involved in many activities, and more kids are being raised in split homes. Our children have a lot on their plates and schools are being asked to pick up the slack.

Patti Ruff: We have to make sure every kid in Iowa gets the skills they need to land a good job in today’s global economy or continue their education after high school. While I’m pleased the State is looking at reform efforts, we have to make sure those efforts are funded from the State without punishing our local schools or property taxpayers. For example, the legislature passed a bill to focus on literacy K-3. However, the State didn’t provide any new money for this initiative. Without the funding, it is not required by the school districts to enforce, leaving the reform without merit.
The task force that came up with new teacher leadership and compensation guidelines specifically stated several times that in order for this reform to work, it needs to be fully funded. If the State is going to revamp our education system, it must be responsible and put forth the money to support it.

What role can the state level of government play in helping small family farms remain operational in competition with the large corporate farming operations?

Patti Ruff: I have a great passion for rural Iowa. I will be a strong voice in Des Moines on making sure our rural communities and family farmers can be heard. We need to keep our ag economy strong. State government can help open doors for our small family farmers in their efforts to make Iowa a world leader in renewable energy.
Our farmer’s markets could also be an outlet for our local farmers. These markets create jobs, revitalize local farms, and provide locally grown fresh produce to Iowans. Besides farmer’s markets, incentives could help local family farmers with other niche-type markets. The main point to remember is that small family farms are different than corporate farming operations and regulations should be developed accordingly.

Bob Hager: I don’t think the State should do everything! I think the smaller farmer and the larger farmer each have a niche in the market and we should allow that free market to drive which each of those farmers does; not some government regulation that may attempt to level the playing field and probably end up hurting instead of helping.