A lawyer from Manning who specializes in tax issues is running for the Democratic nomination for Iowa’s fifth district congressional seat. Matt Campbell is holding a series of events to announce his candidacy. Campbell graduated from Morningside in Sioux City with a degree in political science and economics and then got his law degree from the University of Iowa.
Campbell says he has worked for some of the largest accounting firms in the country and says he has an extensive business background he would like to put to work for the people of western Iowa to help “get the area a bit more focused on economic development and job creation.” Campbell’s website also says he was a volunteer, intern and temporary caseworker for Senator Tom Harkin and helped campaign for Harkin in Iowa and New Hampshire when the Democrat ran for president. Campbell says the stimulus package passed by congress was important as he says that without it, the country would be in the midst of the second Great Depression.
Campbell says banking systems of whole nations have collapsed, and cites Iceland as an example. “At times I think people have a bit of a short memory as to how difficult the whole situation was,” Campbell says. Campbell says incumbent Republican Congressman Steve King has a thin legislative record.
“I just firmly believe that at such a critical time in our nation’s juncture, that we need the best and the brightest ideas coming to the forefront, and if Mr. King…since 2003 can’t offer any legislation that has been adopted, then it’s time to rotate the crops and see if we can get a better yield for western Iowa,” Campbell says. Campbell says King can be “polarizing with some of the things that he says.” Campbell says before talking about the health care debate that nation must talk about a health crisis.
Campbell says people need to take better care of themselves and have a better diet and more exercise. He says the results of the recent election in Massachusetts shows that the country wants both parties to work together and come to a consensus on the issue and he says both Republicans and Democrats are very much concerned about the cost of a health care plan. Campbell is the second Democrat to announce plans to run in the fifth district. Mike Denklau of Council Bluffs also hopes to face off against King.
By Ryan Long, KICD, Spencer