5 Questions for Susan Judkins, House District 43 Challenger: ‘Moderate Views Set Me Apart’

Today, Patch profiles Susan Judkins, Democratic candidate for House District 43, which includes parts of West Des Moines, along with Windsor Heights and Clive.

Judkins, who has a long background in public and private sector work, is challenging incumbent Rep. Chris Hagenow in the Nov. 6 election.

Judkins’ biography and email answers to five questions appear below. Hagenow was given the same questions.

Background:

Susan Judkins, 54, has extensive experience with community and economic development in both public and private organizations. Currently she serves as Community Development Specialist for MSA Professional Services, an engineering and consulting firm. She previously worked on flooding and recovery issues for the Rebuild Iowa Office; served as Vice President for Piper Jaffray, assisting cities and counties with project financing; was Director of Governmental Affairs for the Iowa League of Cities; and implemented the Vision Iowa program as its first program manager while with the Iowa Department of Economic Development.

Susan also served as Executive Director for the Warren County Economic Development Corporation, and was a member of the Indianola School Board. She grew up in Vinton, Iowa, where her family has owned a small business since 1930. She has a BA in Business Management from Simpson College and an MBA from the University of Iowa. Susan is married to Bob Josten, an attorney. Their grown daughters are employed as a college professor, an attorney and an MD.

Q: What issues do you hope to resolve in the Iowa House?

A: I want to encourage more bipartisan cooperation on all bills. I believe "special interests" don't just mean groups with deep pockets but those with important needs and impacts such as Iowa's children, the elderly, and the environment. I will work for improvements to Iowa's small business climate, help Iowa businesses expand, lure new businesses to Iowa, and keep existing businesses here.

I will support a high quality education system that meets lifelong learning needs, will work to protect and improve Iowa's quality of life, and ensure a fiscally sound budget that enables efficient and effective delivery of needed services from state and local goverments. I will try to make sure both legislators and their constituents understand the real impact of proposed budget or tax cuts.

Q: Please describe your vision for education reform.

A: So far, Iowa's education reform efforts have primarily focused on teacher evaluation and student testing. Research shows that the greatest indicator of a student's future success is not grades or test scores, but the level of difficulty of courses they choose to take -- therefore, student achievement should be the focus, rigor must be encouraged, and we must ensure appropriate curriculum options no matter what size school a student attends. We have to be careful to avoid too burdensome a focus on evaluation of teachers and students, which inhibits the joy and benefits of both teaching and learning.

What questions would you like to ask Susan Judkins and Chris Hagenow? Tell us below in the comments.

Parents play an integral role in their child's educational success, and we need to find ways to help them assist students in making better educational choices. Every child must be guaranteed access to quality preschool to ensure that those critical years of early brain development aren't missed and school readiness gaps are reduced.

Both vocational and college readiness are important goals of a K-12 education in preparing students for jobs in today's global economy. Tuition must be affordable at Iowa's community colleges and universities, which should be accessible for lifelong learning.

Q: Do you believe Iowans should be allowed to vote on a constitutional amendment prohibiting same-gender marriage and would you make that issue a priority if you are elected?

A: The process exists to allow a public vote on an amendment to the Iowa Constitution after two consecutive general assemblies have passed amendment language in identical form. I do not believe this amendment process should be changed. I support the Constitution's current language protecting individual rights and would not make passage of a marriage amendment a priority in the Iowa House.

Q: What sets you apart from your opponent?

A: I have moderate views and his are conservative. Iowans want elected officials working together to grow our economy, ensure quality schools, and improve Iowa's quality of life. I don't just talk about these issues; I have worked on them throughout my life and career. For ten years, on behalf of both the Iowa League of Cities and the state Rebuild Iowa Office, I successfully worked with legislators from both sides of the aisle on legislation important to Iowa's economic and community interests.

My real world experience in economic development, school board service, existing relationships with legislators and other policy makers, and track record of successful collaboration is the right background to stop partisan bickering and bring people together to move the state forward on priority issues.

Q: Please complete the following sentence: The best way to bring high-quality, high-paying jobs to Iowa is …

A: “ ... to invest in our workforce by providing a high quality education system that prepares both children and adults for future employment demands, by maintaining Iowa's infrastructure and access to cutting edge technology to meet the demands of modern business, and by supporting a quality of life that ensures business owners and workers alike choose Iowa as a place to live, work and thrive.”