The Mayor of Clinton is now setting her sights on Des Moines. Republican Lametta Wynn, who became the first black woman elected a mayor in Iowa ten years ago, says she’ll run for the Iowa State Senate in District 13. Wynn says she was asked by Senate Republican leader Stewart Iverson to run back in mid-November, but she doesn’t do anything on the spur of the moment.
Senate District 13 includes the city of Clinton and northern Clinton County as well as all of Jackson County and the southern base of Dubuque County. Wynn served a dozen years on the local school board and is in her third four-year term as mayor. Wynn says more local leaders should run for state office.
“Because we’re the people here listening to people, knowing what it is that they need, what they want, and what is good for this community.” A retired nurse, Wynn says one of her major goals will be improving healthcare in the state.
Wynn says it’s “too bad” that anyone would have to choose between taking medication and being healthy, or buying food. “Are you going to eat or are going to take your medicine?” she asks. Wynn says it’s a lot less expensive to help people with their medication than to have them spend three days in the intensive care unit. She also wants to find new ways to retain teachers in Iowa.