Dave Muhlbauer Makes Local Control a Key Issue in Iowa Governor’s Race

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA – Nominee for lieutenant governor Dave Muhlbauer continued the “Restore Local Control Tour” on Tuesday afternoon in Cedar Rapids where he was joined by local elected officials from around the area to discuss how the last decade of one-party control has left Iowa communities behind, and how the voices and powers of local leaders have been diminished.

Dave listened as Linn County Supervisor Sami Scheetz, Cedar Rapids City Councilman Scott Overland, Marion City Councilman Gage Miskimen, State Representative Elizabeth Wilson, and State Representative Jeff Cooling spoke about their experiences and the disconnect between local government and state government. He also shared his own experiences and frustrations as a Crawford County Supervisor and as a member of the Executive Board for the Iowa State Association of Counties. Dave highlighted the similar challenges that local leaders are facing across Iowa because of decisions made by the state government, as well as the need for better communication and a stronger relationship between local and state officials.

Read more about Dave’s roundtable below:

The Gazette: Muhlbauer says Iowa should restore local control as officials criticize property tax law

• The Crawford County supervisor argued that Iowa’s state government has increasingly sidelined cities and counties while local officials warned that recent state policies are making it harder to provide basic services.

• Muhlbauer, running mate of Democratic gubernatorial nominee Rob Sand, convened a roundtable with Linn County elected officials. The discussion centered on the effects of state policies on local governments, particularly property tax changes, behavioral health reforms and what participants described as a growing pattern of state preemption of local decision-making.

• “If you’ve seen one county, you’ve seen one county,” Muhlbauer said, arguing that state leaders have attempted to apply one-size-fits-all solutions to communities with different needs. He said cities and counties are best positioned to understand the issues facing their residents and should have greater authority to solve them.

• Asked why local control has become a major campaign theme, Muhlbauer said his experience as a county supervisor has shown him how closely local officials work with residents and why stronger partnerships between state and local governments are essential.

• “We have to be working together,” Muhlbauer said. “There needs to be that relationship between state and local governments to see the best outcome and moving forward with bettering our communities and our state.”