Election 2012: Kevin Koester Says Economy Should Be the Iowa Legislature's Top Priority Next Session

Ankeny voters will head to the polls on Nov. 6 to decide who will represent them in several local races.

One of those races will determine who will serve a portion of Ankeny residents as the Iowa House District 38 representative.

Today, Ankeny Patch is reacquainting you with Kevin Koester, the seat's incumbent who is seeking re-election against Democrat John Phoenix and Independent candidate Brett Nelson. Some of you may recognize these questions from the June primary election, but we've added new questions and given candidates a chance to expand their answers.

KEVIN KOESTER

Age: 57

Address: 3514 S.W. Edgewood Lane, Ankeny

Employer: State of Iowa and an independent consultant for Ankeny Schools

Number of Years Lived in the District: 33

Summary of Education: B.A. in math from the University of Iowa, graduate studies in school administration and adult education, also at UI.

Family: Married to Linda for 37 years; three grown children, Chris, Erin and Ryan; four grandchildren

What should be the top priority of the next Legislature?

The ECONOMY.

What is the most effective way the Legislature can improve Iowa's economy?

State government can best improve Iowa's economy, first, by keeping within a balanced budget (spend less than we take in), next, by reduced property tax burden for all classes of property, and lastly, by cutting job-killing regulations, especially upon small businesses becasue these are America's job engine.

What is the most important way the Legislature can improve Iowa's schools?

Clarify key measures, raise the expectations accordingly.

Iowa's strong voices for education have one top task, in my opinion. We must soon agree on 'measures' of quality teaching and learning. Reform will flourish, but only when we have consensus on the crucial targets.  We must set new, high expectations based on worthwhile targets, locally and statewide.
Successful student achievement is driven by classroom teachers, first and foremost.  

I support better rewards to teachers and principals for measurably increased learner performance. I do not support higher educator salaries or job security that is guaranteed simply because someone returned back to work for another year. Let's work harder to measure and recognize successes.

What do you see as the state government's role, what should it do for taxpayers and what should it stay out of?

State of Iowa government is responsible to serve Iowans by balancing its state budget, guarding the constitutional rights of citizens and the state regarding federal regulations, and providing services to meet the public will within the revenue capacity. Among these many services, the state should place emphasis on education, public safety and state roads, health and human services, the court system, and, through its executive branch departments, manage limited regulations of local government, business, industry and preservation of our economic and natural resources.

Our government should stay out of matters which inhibit the fundamental principles within our long-standing motto, "Our Liberties We Prize, Our Rights We Will Maintain."

State government must be responsive to taxpayers and its citizens of ALL ages regarding its open and fair delivery of services, budgets and operations. The state must provide a ready response to disasters or emergencies at the state and local levels. My most treasured moments as a representative have been occasional successes with intervention when someone has seemingly been mistreated by an agency of government and my advocacy results in satisfactory, proper resolution. This role is also a fundamental feature of good government.

What were the top 3 successes of the most recent legislative session?

1. Conservative state budgeting to again underspend, as we cut spending to less than 97 percent of Iowa's ongoing state income for 2012 and 2013.
2. Increased support to community colleges, especially workforce training and skills toward job shortages.
3. Mental health reform to eliminate wait lists (over 700 persons in Polk County alone in 2011) and to convert the fragmented county system into a statewide core service plan.

What were the 3 biggest failures?

1. The Senate failed to pass any property tax reform or to even vote upon any of the four separate bills sent by the Iowa House that reduced commercial and residential tax increases (growth limits).
2. Education reform was "milk toast," too little impact regarding clearer measures of student learning and too much delay of action to instead do further "study" by task forces.
3. Failure to allow Iowans to vote to define marriage or protect the right to bear arms.

How can the state restructure property taxes without shifting the burden to homeowners?

I suggest two easy methods:

1. Provide clear LIMITS (2 percent or less) to the growth per year of any rate increase that does not have local voter approval by public referendum.
2. Commit existing state revenues to backfill portions of county and city loss through property tax decreases. Schools do not need this same backfill because they are protected from local tax revenue decreases due to "spending authority" set by the state.

Is the current tax structure hurting the state's economy?

Yes, here are two separate and painful truths that paint a poor picture and describe how our tax law hurts our economy. Iowa is rated the second highest of 50 states regarding excessive commercial property taxes. Also, the current, outdated state formula ties residential rates to agriculture rates that will automatically push up both property rates (homes and farms) for each of the next five years.

Should the next legislature take up the issue of same sex marriage? What would you propose?

Yes. I cosponsored HJR 6 and supported it through four voting opportunities in the Iowa House. I propose that Iowa legislators will pass this referendum, much like HJR 6, to simply allow Iowans to vote on the marriage issue.