Letters: Readers pitch candidates as election nears

Heddens and Murken will keep up their great work

Lisa Heddens and Linda Murken are running for re-election to the Story County Board of Supervisors. I have known both women for 20 years. They have my highest recommendation.

Lisa and I were first elected to the Iowa Legislature in 2002, she to the House and I to the Senate. Then we shared the duties of representing not just Ames but also Gilbert, Madrid, Luther, and Napier. I attended many community events with Lisa and saw firsthand how seriously she took the responsibility of representing all of her constituents. She was interested in the views of people in all these communities and worked hard to advocate equally for all of them. Her diligent efforts have continued as a supervisor to give top quality service to everyone in Story County.

In the Legislature, Lisa was particularly known for her expertise in human services. From both her work in the Iowa House and her jobs working for the National Alliance on Mental Illness, Lutheran Services in Iowa, and the Brain Injury Association, Lisa brings an immensely valuable and unmatched background to county government, which in Iowa has a major responsibility for providing access to mental health services.

Linda Murken grew up in Story County and still lives on the farm where she was raised. She had a lengthy career as the executive director of community-based corrections for central Iowa, developing a strong knowledge of communities in the area and a good working relationship with their leaders. Her management experience is especially useful on the Story County Board, as they have the duty to oversee the general administration of the county.

Please vote for both Linda Murken and Lisa Heddens. It is hard to imagine two better qualified, more knowledgeable, more caring, or harder working officeholders.

Sen. Herman C. Quirmbach, Ames

Vossler will be a fine representative

I voted recently for House District 48 candidate Penny Vossler.

Penny deserved my vote. She represents my views regarding public money being used for public schools, and a women’s right to choose. Abortion is more than a birth control measure and may save the life of the mother.

Penny and I have talked, and she is not an advocate for taking people’s guns, but she is for gun safety. She believes in training, and safety locks. She is opposed to allowing felons, or mentally unstable persons to have access to guns

Penny moved to Boone eight years ago to become the geographic information systems coordinator for the county. She is a mom to two adult children, a grandmother, a former teacher, and a former volunteer for emergency management services. She has recently received a certificate for being a 10-gallon blood donor.

Penny will represent the values of Boone County citizens in Des Moines. A vote for Penny is a vote to move Iowa forward.

Mary Weaver, Rippey

Murken keeps everybody in mind

We are writing in support of Linda Murken for Story County supervisor.

Linda has a long record of public service that started well before her term as county supervisor. She was director of the 2nd Judicial District Department of Correctional Services, an agency with a $16 million budget and 160 employees.

Linda and the other supervisors have responsibly managed taxpayer funds, which has kept our Story County property tax rates low. She helped keep essential county services running during the COVID-19 pandemic. She oversaw prudent distribution of American Rescue Plan Act funds to communities and nonprofits in the county, ensuring that these funds went where they were needed most. Linda also has a strong record of support for water quality and other environmental issues. This includes service on the Ioway Creek Watershed Management Authority and Story County Conservation Board. Just recently, Linda and the other supervisors passed an ordinance that will impose regulations on carbon pipelines proposed to run through the county.

This proactive action shows that she is willing to act in the interests of Story County landholders, rather than those of the pipeline developer.

Linda Murken has extensive public sector experience that gives her invaluable knowledge of and insight into the important issues facing Story County citizens. Her actions show that she willing to act in the interest of all county citizens. These qualities make her deserving of re-election.

William and Mary Ann Dilla, Ames

Murken and Heddens excel in their roles

Today, I have an easy task of endorsing the re-election of Linda Murken and Lisa Heddens to the Story County Board of Supervisors.

I have known and worked with them for many years on many issues of concern at the county level.

They are conscientious, dedicated, and transparent. Their hard-working ethic only bonds with each of their sensitive concerns for all of our county, rural, town, and city. I live in a county rich with natural resources. Our parks are well supported by Heddens and Murken. They are treasures.

Our supervisors work hand in glove with law enforcement. I know from my experience in working in the county attorney's office how important that is. And Linda and Lisa are willing to do what county government can do with climate issues. Finally, our citizens vote with confidence in the integrity of the outcome. Thanks to Linda, Lisa and Lucy Martin for that vote of confidence.

I ask you to cast both of your votes for supervisor for Murken and Heddens.

Ralph Rosenberg, Ames

More:Letters to the editor: Question about the Linc and more endorsements

More:Letters to the editor: Readers tout their picks for Story County Board of Supervisors

Franken is best for Senate

My ideal candidate for the U.S. Senate has shown great expertise in leadership over an extended period of time. He speaks with a sense of responsibility and reasonableness, but still has empathy and compassion for people. He carries himself well, smiles easily, and thinks with obvious sharpness and would be a Senator of whom we could be proud. He is politically moderate and has a sense of duty to the country, not just to a political party. His farm background gives him standing among rural and small town voters who can believe he understands and appreciates them. In addition, his military leadership experience is very good evidence of patriotism.I hope you will vote for this candidate. His name is Mike Franken and he represents the best in all of us.

Larry Kallem, Ames

Propaganda during Cyclone games is out of control

A great university like Iowa State University of Science and Technology deserves, and its family deserves, sponsors of ISU's football broadcasts that are premier, impressive and truthful in their advertising. The bombardment by special interests farm unions doesn't match what ISU football fans merit nor the university's brand needs.

Most games this year and last have been heavy propaganda by those special interests such as the corn board, soybean unions, corn or soybean seed industry, chemical companies or ethanol. The ads over ISU football radio broadcasts are seemingly political and designed to affect policy and public opinion. Obviously, the corn board or most other lobbyist groups or farm unions don't have any goods or services available for purchase by consumers.

Using the dozen football games, usually on a Saturday afternoon, which should be filled with great food, fun, friends and football, to try to indoctrinate fans and push an agenda is an embarrassment to the intellectual prowess of the university community.

Whether or not propaganda, politics and policy proliferation is allowed, ISU football fans including alumni, students, faculty, staff and season ticket holders are worthy of better.

Jean Lillie, Anthon

Murken, Heddens make Story better

I encourage everyone to vote for Linda Murken and Lisa Heddens for Story County Board of Supervisors on Nov. 8. I have known them for over 20 years and witnessed their integrity and commitment in working in various capacities to better Story County and Iowa.

Linda has served on many boards and commissions, such as the Story County Emergency Management Commission, which she chairs, the Ioway Creek Watershed Management Authority, and the County Conservation Board as an ex-officio member. She recently completed the Iowa State Association of Counties’ Certified Supervisor Program. She believes a climate action plan for the county is very important. She has advocated for food for all, child care, emergency rent, affordable housing, rural broadband expansion, conservation and water quality. She listens to people, is willing to learn more and gives thoughtful consideration to her decisions.

Lisa has been very active in working on increasing behavioral health services for children, developing mental health courts in Story County that would help divert people that are justice involved to mental health services within the community. She also advocates for affordable housing options to help provide living stability. She works with the state Legislature (where she served over 17 years) to ensure consistent funding so that evidence-based programs can be implemented to meet the needs of people with mental illness and their families. She supports a climate action plan to both reduce our carbon footprint and increase education around reducing food waste, easier access to recycling, energy conservation and more.

Both of these women deserve our support.

Beverly Kruempel, Ames

Warme's energy and wisdom are needed

We are choosing to vote for Kara Warme because she has a contagious energy and a unique ability to capitalize resources, time, and talents toward the service of others and enrichment of our community. She has done this through being a mentor at local elementary schools, collecting prairie seeds for Story County Conservation, taking kids to local nursing homes, and inspiring young girls (including our daughters) in our community through American Heritage Girls.

Our oldest daughter has had the opportunity to have Kara as one of her leaders in American Heritage for seven years. Kara has encouraged her to step out of her comfort zone by camping out, teaching younger girls at AHG, speaking in front of groups, serving, and having character even when it is hard. Kara has personally invited our family over the years to join her to serve at Food at First, Raising Readers, Stash the Trash, writing letters to active-duty military, and so many other ways!

All of these are great reasons to vote for Kara, but one reason that stands out most is Kara's desire to always listen and hear from all points of view. Over the past few years when there were so many difficult topics in the news, Kara would talk about conversations she was having and books she was reading to help her understand more. She encouraged me to read and watch documentaries I would never have watched, but I am so thankful I did. I gained empathy and compassion, and that is what separates Kara from others. She truly wants to serve, help, listen, and create a community that is diverse yet strong.

Scott and Laura Kincaid, Ames

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Letters: Readers pitch candidates as election nears