Andy McKean is ‘a profile in courage’

To the Editor,

   Having spent 44 years of my life working for local government in Eastern Iowa, I know how very important it is to have good, elected officials. As a former city manager, and an economic development director, I worked with elected officials, regardless of political party. I appreciated officials who put the common good above party. I wanted to work with officials who had good listening skills, could respect differences, were open minded, and who had personal integrity.

   During my years in local government, I had many opportunities to work with Andy McKean, both as a Republican and as a Democrat. Based on the criteria that I just stated, he qualifies as an exemplary local official. He listens well, he is respectful, and he’s a man of high integrity.

   Andy has also shown that he has courage. It was a difficult decision for him to leave the Republican Party, to which he had committed much of his life. He is indeed a profile in courage for making this decision. The reality is that the Republican Party he grew up in has changed dramatically in the past few years. It is no longer the party of our beloved former governor Robert D. Ray. In fact, it could be easily stated that the Republican Party actually left Andy.

   This November, I would encourage everyone who is interested in good local government to elect Andy McKean as your state representative. I can assure you that he works for the common good and always puts people above party.

Dave Heiar

Dubuque, Iowa