There was above average attendance at Creston Rotary Club Monday as the local service club hosted U.S. Congressman Tom Latham for a lunch meeting at Greater Regional Medical Center.

Every seat was filled as Latham spoke to and answered questions from Rotarians about the current state of the federal government. Latham emphasized in opening statements his priority — as it was throughout his campaign — is confronting the mounting debt in the United States.

“I’m looking forward to the huge challenges ahead of us,” Latham said, “and the foremost challenge is a $16.5 trillion debt. We are adding to that debt at $1 trillion per year. That’s not sustainable, and we all know that. We must do something about that debt and do it smart.”