Democratic congressional candidate Rick Dickinson says Iowa’s entire first congressional district could benefit from the lessons learned during the economic resurgence of Dubuque.

A former state legislator, Dickinson’s on leave from his present job as an economic-development leader with the group Greater Dubuque Development. He says economic prosperity and job creation are the foundation of any community, and that’s one issue we face as a state and a country. Dickinson next week will kick off his “No Town Left Behind” tour.

Dickinson will hold a series of public meetings designed to get feedback about how a hands-on congressman can work with civic leaders to improve the lives of northeast Iowans. “If we’re going to change Washington, we have to change the people we send there,” he says. “Dubuque is not to be envied. It’s to be applied to other regions of this congressional district to make sure everybody has a shot at making a livable wage and taking care of their family.”

Dickinson says job creation is one of several issues he‘ll focus on with just over two months to go before the June primary election. Dickinson says the district’s greatest assets are local leaders, workers, educational institutions and natural resources, including the Mississippi river. Dickinson’s April tour will include stops in all 12 counties of the first district.