Office Sought: Iowa State Senate #44
Political Party: Democrat
Candidate email address: [email protected]
Candidate website: http://www.courtneyforsenate.com
Campaign Committee: Tom Courtney for State Senator
Educational Background
| Name | City | State | Years | Diploma/Degree Earned |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wapello Comm. School | Wapello | Iowa | 12 | Diploma |
Employment History
| Employer | Job Title | Start Date | End Date | Brief Job Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Case New Holland | General Production | October 1972 | November 2002 | Assembly line and UAW Production Safety Rep |
Endorsements Received
| Organization | Date | Contact Name | Contact Phone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Farm Bureau | 2020 | Matt Steinfeldt | 515-240-4662 |
| UAW | 2020 | Kelly Harrison | 309-645-4960 |
Why are you running for election?
As a lifelong resident of Senate District 44, I’ve always worked to help make our community a better place to live for my friends, family, and neighbors. I served 6 years in the United States Air Force, I understand veterans’ issues and will work to make sure Veterans get the support they deserve. I’m unhappy about the direction our state is heading. Too many politicians in Des Moines are focused on playing political games, supporting special interests and hurting small business and hard-working Iowans. I have the relationships in Des Moines and will work across the aisle to help change that so that Iowa can get back to the great state it’s always been to live and raise your family. I have the experience and compassion to do the hard work necessary to get elected and start working for you on day one.
What are the 3 most important issues facing your office over the next term?
| Issue | Why is this important? | How will you address this issue? |
|---|---|---|
| Healthcare/Mental Healthcare | Access to affordable healthcare and access to mental health professionals. | Deprivatize healthcare and return to the state supervised system that served Iowans well for many years. We need more mental health professionals and facilities to relieve the burden on cities and counties. |
| Quality, affordable education | Iowa was #1 or #2 in Education for many years and we’ve now slipped to #13. We can do better. | I will work with educators and all legislators to develop bi-partisan legislation to raise Iowa back to its former status in education. |
| Good paying jobs with benefits | Iowa is known as a low-wage state. Our young people are leaving for better paying jobs in other states. | The minimum wage hasn’t been raised since 2009. $7.25 is not a liveable wage. I will work across the aisle with businesses large and small to address this issue to benefit employers and employees. |
What are the 3 most important issues facing Muscatine County over the next term?
| Issue | Why is this important? | How will you address this issue? (if applicable) |
|---|---|---|
| Covid-19 | It’s important to keep Iowans health and to keep businesses open. | The Legislature should be working with the Governor to find solutions to the pandemic issues. |
| Affordable healthcare | Access to affordable healthcare is important to all counties. Citizens need access to affordable, quality healthcare. | Deprivatize healthcare and return to a state supervised system. |
| Quality education and quality employment | Everyone deserves access to quality education and jobs. | I would work with K-12 educators, as well as community colleges to emphasize skilled training for those who don’t desire a 4 year degree. |
What is the most important thing you would like voters to know about you that they may not?
I have lived in this district my entire life except for the 6 years I was in the Air Force during the Viet Nam War. I have family in Muscatine, Wapello, Mediapolis, Columbus Junction, Grand View, Morning Sun, Oakville, and Burlington. I have friends throughout the District. This is my home it’s very important to me. I have always worked and will always work to make this District the best that it can be.
