Newton
Serving Newton & Jasper County Since 1902
Daily News
Tuesday, March 25, 2014 OBITUARIES Juanita Jackson, 91 ‘Bart’ Padgett, 67 Claudia J. Wyatt, 62 INSIDE TODAY
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Critchfield throws hat in ring for Jasper County Recorder By Ty Rushing Daily News Senior Staff Writer The race to replace outgoing Jasper County Recorder Nancy Parrott has a new candidate: Marshall Critchfield. Critchfield is the current chairman of the Jasper County Republicans and formally announced his candidacy during his organization’s meeting on Monday night. “I feel like I would do a really
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good job at it,” Critchfield told a crowd that was mixed between supporters and Republican candidates and representatives from various offices. In an interview after the meeting, Critchfield explained why he thinks he would do a good job and what interested him in joining the race.
Newton, Iowa
Ty Rushing/Daily News Jasper County Republican Chairman Marshall Critchfield announced last night he would be seeking the office of Jasper County Recorder during his organization’s monthly meeting.
CRITCHFIELD See Page 5A
Heartsill welcomes CEA to Capitol Page 2A
Ty Rushing/Daily News Gubernatorial candidate Tom Hoefling spoke at Monday night’s GOP Central Committee meeting at Fore Seasons Golf Practice Center in Newton. Hoefling is challenging Gov. Terry Branstad in the Republican primaries.
Public Works director running for Treasurer of Iowa By Ty Rushing Daily News Senior Staff Writer
Sports
Ramos wins NCAA championship Page 7A
Agriculture
Local teens run lawn care service Page 12A
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Mon., Mar. 24 High 36 Low 21 1 ⁄2 inch of snow Also: Astrograph Page 11A Classifieds Page 9A Comics & Puzzles Page 6A Dear Abby Page 6A Opinion Page 4A Obituaries Page 3A Police Page 3A Our 112th Year No. 216
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Hoefling visits with Jasper Co. Republicans By Bob Eschliman Daily News Editor
Tom Hoefling
All Tom Hoefling is asking for is a fair listening. After that, he asks you to vote your conscience. “If, after listening to me, you decide you’re backing Gov. Branstad, I want you to vote for him,” the 53-year-old GOP gubernatorial candidate said during an interview with the Daily News on Monday afternoon. “That’s why we have a representative government. It’s meant to represent our interests.” Hoefling said he didn’t expect to be running against five-time incumbent Gov. Terry Branstad in the June 3 primary, but decided to run when no one else would. He said he felt Republicans deserved a “conservative option” on the primary ballot. The Lohrville resident is a strident social conservative. As a Christian, he said he is against gay marriage and has been on record supporting efforts by his local legislator, State Rep. Tom Shaw, to push a personhood bill in the Iowa General Assembly. But he chooses to frame those positions through the prism of his positions on education, economic development and taxation. On each of those issues, he said: • Education — Hoefling said he differs from Branstad because he opposes the Common Core State Standards, which he said Branstad supports. He instead supports an approach he has labeled TLC: True Local Control. He proposes altering the way tax money is collected and spent on education, keeping funding locally and giving local school districts more ownership of their own operations. “The way things are set up now, school board members already have most of their budget earmarked the second they sit down to start working; there’s little opportunity for ownership,” he said. “Common Core is the final blow to any semblance of local control. Even independents and Democrats who aren’t in the party elite understand that; my position has broad appeal.” • Economic Development — Hoefling said today’s economic development efforts are little more than “crony capitalism” in which most peo-
Age: 53 Occupation: Political activist, conservative campaign strategist Wife: Siena Stone Hoefling Children: Matthew Conrad Hoefling, 30 (Christina Ballard Hoefling), of Idaho; Katherine Hoefling Marshall, 27 (Tim Marshall), of Lohrville; Timothy Thomas Hoefling, 19, a student at Iowa Central Community College in Fort Dodge; and Elijah James Hoefling, 7, Sebastian Dean Hoefling, 5, Samuel Isaac Hoefling, 4, Grace Ann Hoefling, 2, and Caleb Conrad Hoefling, 4 months, all of whom live with Tom and Siena in Lohrville. Two of Tom’s children — Casey Conrad Hoefling and Hannah Marie Hoefling — died in infancy. Foster children: Samantha Kennedy, 27, (his niece) and Christopher Kennedy, 24, (his nephew) both of whom live in Woodbury County. Grandchildren: Audrey, 7; and Abigail, 5 ple are not benefiting. He proposes “equal protection under the law,” in which everyone’s interests are protected while everyone benefits. He would also propose getting rid of the state’s income tax, and to “get the state off the throats of small businesses” through the elimination of burdensome regulations. “Where I’m from, people look over the Little Sioux River at Sioux Falls, which has grown by about one-third in the past 10 years alone, and see what can happen when government is less intrusive,” he said. “Iowa has one of the highest marginal tax rates in the country ... There’s a reason why we’re HOEFLING See Page 5A
In a press release yesterday, Newton Public Work Director Keith Laube announced he is running for Treasurer of State in Iowa as a member of the Libertarian Party. “I guess I’m looking for ways to improve state government,” Laube said in an interview on why he decided to run. “Basically, my opponent (Michael Fitzgerald) has been in office for 32 years and he’s going to run again to make it 36 years, and I think it’s Laube time for a change.” Laube said he could bring a “fresh” energy to the state level. “I’ve been thinking about this for several months and I’m a serious candidate with this,” Laube said. “I’ve got the credentials. Basically, the treasurer runs the department, and I have the educational experience to do the job.” “I’m a hardworking and honest person, and I spent 18 years in the private sector, so I still think like a taxpayer,” he continued. “I have some government experience as well, and I’m going to protect the taxpayers’ money and get the best benefits for that money. While most candidates would shy away from pointing out their opponent’s edge in experience, Laube sees his opponent’s longtenure as a fault and not as a strength. “If someone has been in an office for three or four decades, it’s time for a change. There are a lot of smart people in this state who can lead, and we need some leaders in our state government to carry us forward into the future,” Laube said. Senior staff writer Ty Rushing may be contacted at (641) 792-3121, ext. 426, or at trushing@newtondailynews.com.
Branstad, Reynolds to host town hall April 2 in Newton By Bob Eschliman Daily News Editor Gov. Terry Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds will hold a town hall meeting from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, April 2, at Newton Manufacturing. The public event is open to all Jasper County residents. “Gov. Branstad and Lt. Gov. Reynolds will give a brief outline of their legislative priorities, which include Home Base Iowa, connecting every Iowan through increased broadband access, preventing bullying in schools ensuring every student has a safe and Gov. Branstad secure learning environment, an apprenticeship program so Iowa workers have the skillset to match with Iowa’s high-quality jobs and freezing tuition at our Regent universities for a second year in a row,” spokesman Jimmy Centers said about the event. “The Governor and Lt. Governor will then open it up for questions.”