Bellevue Herald-Leader Front Page: “Sand on the River”

Jeremy Putman: “I’m a registered Republican, but I believe in Rob and his approach. He understands accountability, hard work, and the value of a dollar — and those things matter more to me than party lines.”

DES MOINES, IA — Last week, candidate for governor Rob Sand visited Riverview Boat Store and Tug Service in Bellevue as part of his “One Year, One Iowa” tour. Rob met with Jeremy Putman, President of the Boat Store’s parent company, Riverview Companies, to learn about the business’s operations and talk about how river commerce supports Iowa’s agricultural economy.

Putman also discussed why he’s supporting Rob’s campaign for governor as a registered Republican, including Rob’s “approach,” saying “[Rob] understands accountability, hard work, and the value of a dollar — and those things matter more to me than party lines,” and that “we need someone willing to make tough, smart decisions to get us back on track.”

Read more about Rob’s visit to Bellevue below:

Bellevue Herald-Leader: Candidate for Iowa governor comes to Bellevue’s Riverview Boat Store

Jeremy Putman, President of the Boat Store’s parent company, Riverview Companies, says there’s no better place for Iowa leaders to see a good part of the state’s economy in motion.
“This river is Iowa’s lifeline,” Putman said in a prepared statement to the Herald-Leader. “Every load of corn or soybeans heading south starts with the hard work of Iowa farmers. The river connects those farms to the world.”
“Rob and I come from different political sides, but we share a lot of the same values,” Putman said. “I’m a registered Republican, but I believe in Rob and his approach. He understands accountability, hard work, and the value of a dollar — and those things matter more to me than party lines.”
Putman said he believes Iowa is facing serious financial challenges and that new leadership is needed to restore fiscal balance. “Iowa is in a bad place financially,” he said. “We’ve been overspending and it’s catching up. We need someone willing to make tough, smart decisions to get us back on track.”
Sand said he thinks Iowa should be more supportive of the trades. He added that if that means financially, that’s one thing, but a lot of it will come down to the discussion and how leaders talk trades it in education.”
He added that there’s at many times a disconnect between local job opportunities and students about to reach working age. Quite often, he said, high school students are pressured to go to college and get a degree, even when a degree isn’t needed for their future career path. Both Putman and Phillips agreed, and said that most overlook the river when thinking about career paths.
“When people think about farming, they don’t always think about towboats and barges,” Putman said. “But the truth is — the river is what moves Iowa agriculture. Every bushel that leaves this state by barge makes us more competitive in the global market. Supporting river business means supporting farmers.”
“We built Riverview from the ground up, right here in Bellevue,” he said. “It’s proof that you can grow a business nationally and still stay true to your community and your people. That’s the kind of Iowa story worth telling.”