Campaigning locally

To the Editor,

   Recent Letters to the Editor have espoused the qualities of Republicans, their ability at running campaigns on the cheap, and the qualities of irresponsible political advertising some will respond to.

   Rather than talk about what their candidates bring to the table that make them a better candidate, they resort to cheap shots that for the most part do nothing to tell the voter why they should support a candidate.

   When Andy KcKean was a Republican, in 2016, he accepted $146,438 in donations. When he changed parties and ran for re-election, his fortunes changed as did his funding, dropping to $51,897. His Republican opponent (Steve) Bradley has not responded to Ballotpedia, but if Mrs. Retzlaff is correct, McKean’s first-time election challenger out-spent him by roughly $18,000.

   Accordingly, because we don’t know, that what he “spent” does not mean that is all that was raised.

   “Americans for Prosperity” initially funded by the deep pockets of the Koch Brothers, are currently backing Dr. Bradley. The “AFP” organization had become one of just 15 groups which account for three-quarters of the anonymous cash in elections. Some of AFP’s policy positions align with the business interests of the Koch brothers and Koch Industries, which include support for rescinding energy regulations and environmental restrictions, expanding domestic energy production, lowering taxes, and reducing government spending, especially Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. Their help and support in election campaigns has come from “informing people” about candidates they don’t care for in any number of ways, including factual errors, misrepresentation of the facts, and out-right dirty tricks.

   You decide; who do you want to represent you.

Steve Hanken

Monticello, Iowa