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Ramaker, Kearns vie for Iowa House seat
By Steve Dunn/Gate City Managing Editor
The Daily Gate City continues its pre-election coverage with profiles of the two candidates running for a seat in the Iowa House of Representatives from District 92. The winner will replace state Rep. Phil Wise, who decided to retire rather than seek re-election after serving 11 terms in the Iowa House.
Gary Ramaker
Age: 60
Address: 1007 Rand Park Terrace, Keokuk
Occupation: Retired deputy chief of the Keokuk Police Department.
Education: Graduated in 1966 from Keokuk High School; graduated in 1969 from Southeastern Community College; graduated in 1974 from Iowa Police Academy; and graduated from the FBI (LEEDA) Academy.
Family: Wife, Marsha; son, Drew, 27 years old; son, Rob, 23 years old; one grandson, Ethan, 3 years old.
Why are you running for office?
I am running for office because I have dedicated the majority of my adult life to public service. The citizens of Keokuk gave me a good living doing a job that I truly loved. I deeply care about my small corner of the world and I love the state of Iowa. I am very concerned about the direction our state is going. Southeast Iowa is faced with many mandates that the rest of the state doesn't have to deal with. Hence the saying in Missouri, “The last two Iowa governors are the best governors that Missouri has ever had...” Just take a drive to the Missouri state line on Friday and you will see what I mean. Iowa cars are lined up getting gas, pop, and cigarettes.
In Illnois, you have no state taxes on retirements. In Southeast Iowa, we will be seeing more and more retired folks moving to states like Illnois to save money on their retirements. We have declining populations, outrageous taxes, state mandates that are “not” funded - just more and more laws that are unenforceable. I guarantee you that extraterritorial zoning is not going away. The helmet law will pop its ugly head up again, and it's just a matter of time before the do-gooders outlaw stock car racing. They already have passed laws to put mufflers on race cars. I believe in clean air and I have even hugged a tree or two, but not at the sacrifice of the Iowa State Constitution. The State Constitution states that all laws at a General Assembly shall not grant any citizen or class of citizens privileges or immunities which upon the same terms shall not equally apply to all citizens. Do we believe in this or is this just so many pretty words? Even senators, legislators and even a judge stated that we probably violated the Constitution, but we erred on the side of public safety. These are complicated issues that need to be addressed by the state legislature; laws that affect every citizen in Southeast Iowa.
n What qualifies you to serve in the office you are seeking?
My qualifications to serve as a legislator are 60 years of living in Southeast Iowa, honesty and integrity. I will not accept any money from PACs, lobbyists or special interest groups. My campaign consists of me and me alone. I don't have a big group to do my leg work. I am willing to change my point of view, but not my core values. I'm here, ready and willing to serve Democrats, Republicans, independents and all the citizens of District 92.
When I became a member of management at the Keokuk Police Department, I expected employees to do their jobs. I never asked anyone to do anything that I wouldn't do myself. We had very few grievances. I had an “open door” policy toward my employees as well as the public. We worked all grievances out and never went to arbitration. Part of that was because I never forgot what it was like to be in my employees' place working shifts and long hours.
I've been described as “blunt, fiery and passionate.” That's me. At work, I wasn't running for “Mr. Congeniality,” I was just trying to do the best job I could. I am proud of my work record, my employees and the job we did together. Our little Keokuk Police Department was judged the number two police department in the nation in its class by the prestigious Chief's Challenge. I like to feel that I had a big part in making that happen.
3. What are the top three priorities you would have in office?
4. How would you address these priorities?
My top three priorities include:
1. Less government control of each citizen's life.
I would caucus for no more frivolous laws that are basically unenforceable. The police are shorthanded and can better utilize their time by addressing crime, not enforcing unconstitutional feel-good laws, which make criminals out of law-abiding citizens.
2. Hold the line on taxes for two years.
According to the Des Moines Register (May 29) the budgets approved during the past two legislative sessions have increased state spending by $849 million while revenue only grew $559 million.
This is a quote from the State of Iowa Auditor David Vandt in the June 4 issue of the Farm Bureau Spokeman, “Lawmakers have been paying for general expenses with special funds, funds which were established with federal money to help seniors stay in their homes longer called the Senior Living Trust Fund. Other funds used for generating expenses are the Property Tax Credit Fund and various tobacco funds.” He also stated that despite an increase in revenue at nearly 10 percent in the last two years, expenditure growth outpaced revenue growth by 52 percent. Can most people run their households like that? Vandt further stated the $620 million gathered in the rainy day fund provides a false sense of security considering the $569.3 million gap built into the 2010 budget. Even a shortfall could wipe out the funds in just a year.
Just think of our recent economic disaster - the flood. You read like I did that certain legislators Republican and Democrat want to re-think the new Iowa State Penitentiary project. I rest my case. With a looming threat of a recession, what is the answer? Raise taxes.
Now if you think the State of Iowa doesn't make any mistakes, do you remember the Touch Play machines? They were in bars, gas stations, grocery stores, etc. According to an Associated Press article, Attorney General Tom Miller reached a tentative settlement with 32 of 33 Touch Play operators involved in the lawsuit to the tune of $15.5 million that was taken out at the State of Iowa General Fund to pay Touch Play litigations. The article then goes on to say that a $1.7 million settlement was made to West Des Moines-backed Royal Financial and another million to Greater American Distributing. All because the state of Iowa couldn't follow its own rules. Reason-The machines resembled slot machines reserved for designated casino play only.
Did you know that Iowans pay higher taxes than many other states? Iowa has lower incomes, a slower economic growth and that Iowa people, businesses and jobs are moving to lower tax states? Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wyoming have no state income taxes. Did you know that state government workers average 47 percent more than private workers in Iowa? Private, $32,656, state, $47,898. These figures were taken from the US Department of Labor and Iowa's Comprehensive Annual Financial Report June 2006, page 137.
I would like to see the State of Iowa pass a law or make an amendment to the Iowa Consitution to require voter approval if taxes are to be raised 1 percent of the annual state general fund. It should be approved by a majority of the people. One percent is $60 million.
3. Be an advocate for renewable and alternative fuels.
I have lived long enough to see Iowa citizens declarations of energy independence all at which failed.
We in Southeast Iowa are at the forefront of shooting for that goal. We need to do everthing we can to become independent of foreign oil and the huge transfers of wealth. I would like to see us start using natual gas and propane in our state, county and city vehicles. I think this would be a good start.
5. What would you like your legacy to be after you leave office?
I would like my legacy to be that if elected and after I left office, people would say that Gary Ramaker was passionate about his beliefs. He was understanding and he was reasonable. He was not motivated by money, PACs, lobbyists or special interest groups. When he went home at night, he could lay his head on his pillow knowing that he did his job to the best of his ability. that he wasn't a politician, but a conscientous Iowan who put District 92's best interest ahead of his own.
Jerry Kearns
Age: 64 - born and raised on a farm near Wyaconda, Mo.
Address: 402 Hickory Terrace, Keokuk
Occupation: Staff representative for the United Steelworkers Union. Previously an industrial electrician at Henniges Automotive and prior to that a staff sergeant in the U.S. Air Force.
Education: High school, attended Southeast Iowa Community College
Family: Wife, Diane; two sons, Chris and Aaron; seven grandchildren.
Why are you running for office?
To represent fully the citizens of the 92nd District (which is comprised of most of the population of Lee County) and to make a difference for Southeast Iowa. One of the most important priorities I intend to pursue as a legislator will be to listen to the citizens of the district.
What qualifies you to serve in the office you are seeking?
I am hopeful my 18 years of experience as a Lee County supervisor and more than 40 years of representing workers throughout Iowa will provide the necessary skills and ability needed to be an effective legislator.
What are the top three priorities you would have in office?
I often answer this question with: 1. Jobs and economic development. 2. Jobs and economic development. 3. Jobs and economic development.
However, I hope to pursue other priorities as well, including these two additional issues: first, infrastructure improvement including locally, the planned by-pass of Fort Madison and ensuring the new state penitentiary is constructed in Lee County as soon as practicable. Second, work toward making Iowa the leader in research for, manufacturing and growing of, and jobs in - alternative energy. Finally, I would like to address tax issues, especially the areas of equitableness and fairness of our tax policy.
How would you address those priorities?
I believe I can make the best use of my ability to study issues and work through the legislative process using the experience and abilities I have gained throughout a lifetime of work as a supervisor in county government, as an industrial tradesman, and as a negotiator and facilitator in union-management relations. I believe I have the knowledge and skills needed to work with other legislators in order to arrive at a consensus regardless of geographic or political differences.
What would you like your legacy to be after you leave office?
That I have helped in some way - the 92nd District, Lee County and indeed the state - to become an even better place to live and support a family for our children and their children than it was for our generation.
Gary Ramaker
Age: 60
Address: 1007 Rand Park Terrace, Keokuk
Occupation: Retired deputy chief of the Keokuk Police Department.
Education: Graduated in 1966 from Keokuk High School; graduated in 1969 from Southeastern Community College; graduated in 1974 from Iowa Police Academy; and graduated from the FBI (LEEDA) Academy.
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Why are you running for office?
I am running for office because I have dedicated the majority of my adult life to public service. The citizens of Keokuk gave me a good living doing a job that I truly loved. I deeply care about my small corner of the world and I love the state of Iowa. I am very concerned about the direction our state is going. Southeast Iowa is faced with many mandates that the rest of the state doesn't have to deal with. Hence the saying in Missouri, “The last two Iowa governors are the best governors that Missouri has ever had...” Just take a drive to the Missouri state line on Friday and you will see what I mean. Iowa cars are lined up getting gas, pop, and cigarettes.
In Illnois, you have no state taxes on retirements. In Southeast Iowa, we will be seeing more and more retired folks moving to states like Illnois to save money on their retirements. We have declining populations, outrageous taxes, state mandates that are “not” funded - just more and more laws that are unenforceable. I guarantee you that extraterritorial zoning is not going away. The helmet law will pop its ugly head up again, and it's just a matter of time before the do-gooders outlaw stock car racing. They already have passed laws to put mufflers on race cars. I believe in clean air and I have even hugged a tree or two, but not at the sacrifice of the Iowa State Constitution. The State Constitution states that all laws at a General Assembly shall not grant any citizen or class of citizens privileges or immunities which upon the same terms shall not equally apply to all citizens. Do we believe in this or is this just so many pretty words? Even senators, legislators and even a judge stated that we probably violated the Constitution, but we erred on the side of public safety. These are complicated issues that need to be addressed by the state legislature; laws that affect every citizen in Southeast Iowa.
n What qualifies you to serve in the office you are seeking?
My qualifications to serve as a legislator are 60 years of living in Southeast Iowa, honesty and integrity. I will not accept any money from PACs, lobbyists or special interest groups. My campaign consists of me and me alone. I don't have a big group to do my leg work. I am willing to change my point of view, but not my core values. I'm here, ready and willing to serve Democrats, Republicans, independents and all the citizens of District 92.
When I became a member of management at the Keokuk Police Department, I expected employees to do their jobs. I never asked anyone to do anything that I wouldn't do myself. We had very few grievances. I had an “open door” policy toward my employees as well as the public. We worked all grievances out and never went to arbitration. Part of that was because I never forgot what it was like to be in my employees' place working shifts and long hours.
I've been described as “blunt, fiery and passionate.” That's me. At work, I wasn't running for “Mr. Congeniality,” I was just trying to do the best job I could. I am proud of my work record, my employees and the job we did together. Our little Keokuk Police Department was judged the number two police department in the nation in its class by the prestigious Chief's Challenge. I like to feel that I had a big part in making that happen.
3. What are the top three priorities you would have in office?
4. How would you address these priorities?
My top three priorities include:
1. Less government control of each citizen's life.
I would caucus for no more frivolous laws that are basically unenforceable. The police are shorthanded and can better utilize their time by addressing crime, not enforcing unconstitutional feel-good laws, which make criminals out of law-abiding citizens.
2. Hold the line on taxes for two years.
According to the Des Moines Register (May 29) the budgets approved during the past two legislative sessions have increased state spending by $849 million while revenue only grew $559 million.
This is a quote from the State of Iowa Auditor David Vandt in the June 4 issue of the Farm Bureau Spokeman, “Lawmakers have been paying for general expenses with special funds, funds which were established with federal money to help seniors stay in their homes longer called the Senior Living Trust Fund. Other funds used for generating expenses are the Property Tax Credit Fund and various tobacco funds.” He also stated that despite an increase in revenue at nearly 10 percent in the last two years, expenditure growth outpaced revenue growth by 52 percent. Can most people run their households like that? Vandt further stated the $620 million gathered in the rainy day fund provides a false sense of security considering the $569.3 million gap built into the 2010 budget. Even a shortfall could wipe out the funds in just a year.
Just think of our recent economic disaster - the flood. You read like I did that certain legislators Republican and Democrat want to re-think the new Iowa State Penitentiary project. I rest my case. With a looming threat of a recession, what is the answer? Raise taxes.
Now if you think the State of Iowa doesn't make any mistakes, do you remember the Touch Play machines? They were in bars, gas stations, grocery stores, etc. According to an Associated Press article, Attorney General Tom Miller reached a tentative settlement with 32 of 33 Touch Play operators involved in the lawsuit to the tune of $15.5 million that was taken out at the State of Iowa General Fund to pay Touch Play litigations. The article then goes on to say that a $1.7 million settlement was made to West Des Moines-backed Royal Financial and another million to Greater American Distributing. All because the state of Iowa couldn't follow its own rules. Reason-The machines resembled slot machines reserved for designated casino play only.
Did you know that Iowans pay higher taxes than many other states? Iowa has lower incomes, a slower economic growth and that Iowa people, businesses and jobs are moving to lower tax states? Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wyoming have no state income taxes. Did you know that state government workers average 47 percent more than private workers in Iowa? Private, $32,656, state, $47,898. These figures were taken from the US Department of Labor and Iowa's Comprehensive Annual Financial Report June 2006, page 137.
I would like to see the State of Iowa pass a law or make an amendment to the Iowa Consitution to require voter approval if taxes are to be raised 1 percent of the annual state general fund. It should be approved by a majority of the people. One percent is $60 million.
3. Be an advocate for renewable and alternative fuels.
I have lived long enough to see Iowa citizens declarations of energy independence all at which failed.
We in Southeast Iowa are at the forefront of shooting for that goal. We need to do everthing we can to become independent of foreign oil and the huge transfers of wealth. I would like to see us start using natual gas and propane in our state, county and city vehicles. I think this would be a good start.
5. What would you like your legacy to be after you leave office?
I would like my legacy to be that if elected and after I left office, people would say that Gary Ramaker was passionate about his beliefs. He was understanding and he was reasonable. He was not motivated by money, PACs, lobbyists or special interest groups. When he went home at night, he could lay his head on his pillow knowing that he did his job to the best of his ability. that he wasn't a politician, but a conscientous Iowan who put District 92's best interest ahead of his own.
Jerry Kearns
Age: 64 - born and raised on a farm near Wyaconda, Mo.
Address: 402 Hickory Terrace, Keokuk
Occupation: Staff representative for the United Steelworkers Union. Previously an industrial electrician at Henniges Automotive and prior to that a staff sergeant in the U.S. Air Force.
Education: High school, attended Southeast Iowa Community College
Family: Wife, Diane; two sons, Chris and Aaron; seven grandchildren.
Why are you running for office?
To represent fully the citizens of the 92nd District (which is comprised of most of the population of Lee County) and to make a difference for Southeast Iowa. One of the most important priorities I intend to pursue as a legislator will be to listen to the citizens of the district.
What qualifies you to serve in the office you are seeking?
I am hopeful my 18 years of experience as a Lee County supervisor and more than 40 years of representing workers throughout Iowa will provide the necessary skills and ability needed to be an effective legislator.
What are the top three priorities you would have in office?
I often answer this question with: 1. Jobs and economic development. 2. Jobs and economic development. 3. Jobs and economic development.
However, I hope to pursue other priorities as well, including these two additional issues: first, infrastructure improvement including locally, the planned by-pass of Fort Madison and ensuring the new state penitentiary is constructed in Lee County as soon as practicable. Second, work toward making Iowa the leader in research for, manufacturing and growing of, and jobs in - alternative energy. Finally, I would like to address tax issues, especially the areas of equitableness and fairness of our tax policy.
How would you address those priorities?
I believe I can make the best use of my ability to study issues and work through the legislative process using the experience and abilities I have gained throughout a lifetime of work as a supervisor in county government, as an industrial tradesman, and as a negotiator and facilitator in union-management relations. I believe I have the knowledge and skills needed to work with other legislators in order to arrive at a consensus regardless of geographic or political differences.
What would you like your legacy to be after you leave office?
That I have helped in some way - the 92nd District, Lee County and indeed the state - to become an even better place to live and support a family for our children and their children than it was for our generation.
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Reader Comments
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duluoz wrote on Oct 29, 2008 11:37 AM:
TouchPlay was all about (1) a short-on-cash state trying to drive moneymaking opportunities; (2) a shortsighted program that performed spectacularly but didn't think about the consequences of making private businesses front all the money for a government program; (3) the perfect storm of opposition from concerned citizens that didn't want Iowa to resemble Nevada, gambling opponents who wanted to stop the spread of the machines, and casinos that didn't like the competition; and (4) the resulting legal questions of whether the state violated the constitution or broke a "contract" with the program participants by pulling the plug years before the private businesses had an opportunity to recoup the costs of buying the machines.
If your justification for seeking office is to avoid the mistakes of those that came before you, shouldn't you at least make the effort to *understand* those mistakes? "