Election 2012: Kressig and Kenyon Both Base Campaigns on Education, Experience

At first glance, the opposing campaigns of Rep. Bob Kressig and James Kenyon have more things in common than different.

Incumbent Democrat Kressig and Republican Kenyon are vying for the Iowa House District 59 seat, representing Cedar Falls.

Both men have made education and experience bulwarks of their campaigns.

Kenyon touts his 19 years of service on the Cedar Falls School Board, as well as his 38 years as a small businessman - he owns Cedar Valley Veterinary Center and was even the vet for Kressig's family.

"I’ve been extremely active since my youth, being involved in leadership, community events and organizations," he said. "I think I bring a lot of experience in community development. I’m a tax payer, a landlord and my family has all been educated in our community, in our schools here."

Kressig is seeking re-election for his fifth term. He currently serves on the Iowa House commerce, government oversight, local government and public safety committees.

"I’ve had the experience and the knowledge, that’s the key part. I know and understand the legislative process," he said. "And I’ve been an advocate for my constituent's issues."

He said he takes his job seriously and wants voters to know they can approach him.

"I have listened. I’ve knocked on thousands of doors, year after year, and people get a chance to visit with me and share their concerns," he said. "And I let folks know, in Des Moines, what I’m hearing."

Advocates for education

Both he and Kenyon said they were advocates for education.

Kenyon, again, pointed to his long tenure on the school board.

"I feel I know education," he said. "I believe I understand education with extreme passion. I’ve been there."

Kressig pointed to his participation in the fight for increased funding for the University of Northern Iowa during the last legislative session.

Help for small businesses

Commercial property tax reform was also at the forefronts of both candidate's platforms.

"Currently commercial property tax is at 100 percent. It’s been talked about and nothing has been done," Kressig said. "If you’re a small business owner in the Cedar Valley and you’re paying a $60-70,000 tax bill, any reduction in that is going to help you, maybe to hire another person or look at an expansion."

Kenyon also said commercial property taxes need to be reformed. Additionally, he mentioned reforming some of the regulations small business owners face. He said as a small business owner, he knows how onerous the number of permits to fill out and regulations to follow can be.

"There are certain protections we do for our citizens, but regulations are really costing us in terms of economic development," he said.

Kressig said Iowa can continue to grow its economy by investing in a skilled work force.

"I’ve talked to business leaders across the state," he said. "They’re greatly concerned about having the skilled workers to be able to perform their jobs. I’m willing to invest money in making sure we have a skilled work force."

What they're proud of

Kressig said one of the pieces of legislation he's most proud of is creating and funding a child protection center at Allen Hospital in Waterloo.

He said a local school counselor told him about a little girl who was being sexually abused. The nearest child protection center for that girl, and hundreds of others, was in Cedar Rapids. Now, however, he said the Allen Child Protection Center is seeing about 500 kids a year.

Kenyon, whose campaign slogan is, "A voice of reason," said he considers himself a moderate and wants to reach across the aisle to get things done in the state legislature.

"I would like to think I could bring some sound, non-partisan views and opinions and hopefully be able to bridge that gap between such heated rhetoric that I think is not necessary," he said.

He said he is a fiscal conservative but, "not a social issue person," and that he wants to avoid decisive issues. At a League of Women Voters forum he said he would vote to retain Iowa Supreme Court Justice David Wiggins, who ruled in favor of same sex marriage, and would not support a Personhood Amendment, which would define life as beginning at conception.

"I'm pro-life, but Roe v. Wade is the law of the land," he said at the time.

He said if such positions cost him support, so be it.

"I was told a couple of things to begin with from a good friend, U.S. Rep. Dave Nagle. He said it’s your campaign. Don’t let anyone else run it. That’s what I’ve tried to do," he said. "I've taken a lot of dives, but ultimately it's my name, my integrity. I’ve enjoyed this community and I’m not going to try to be anything different on an ad than I have in life."