Campbell outlines plan for job creation, denounces opponents

Democrat Matt Campbell, who is running for U.S. Congress in Iowa’s 5th District, talks with Union County Democrats Vice Chairwoman Marcia Fulton Saturday night at A & G Pizza, Steakhouse and Lounge. Campbell’s campaign is focused on job creation and a need for change in the position. (CNA photo by TYLER ELLYSON)

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Jobs, jobs, jobs.

These are the three issues Matt Campbell is campaigning behind.

The Democratic candidate for Iowa’s 5th District U.S. Congress seat was in Creston Saturday night delivering his goals to a few Union County Democrats.

“New businesses are what’s going to give us the jobs that we need,” Campbell told the crowd of eight gathered at A & G Pizza, Steakhouse and Lounge.

Plan

As part of his plan to create new jobs, Campbell offered a three-fold plan featuring renewable energy, high-tech manufacturing and economic development.

Campbell outlined a future for western Iowa that included obtaining federal stimulus dollars to build high-tech manufacturing plants, which would create jobs during both the construction and operational phases. In addition to creating these businesses, Campbell proposed identifying western Iowa’s top 50 fastest-growing, high-tech businesses as a way to gauge progress.

Secondly, he would like to see more communities tapping into renewable energy in an effort to keep utility dollars local. Under this plan, a liaison from his office would work with community leaders on renewable-energy projects.

A final key for job creation, according to Campbell, is implementing a liaison for regional economic-development boards. Campbell said this would allow business start-up to be tracked, and create a venue for local businesspeople to share ideas and interact — particularly with area college and high school students.

“We’re going to have more of our young people who are actually going to want to stay in this region rather than looking for an opportunity elsewhere because they will have a new, exciting enterprise that they’re working with,” said Campbell. “Instead of seeing population decline in western Iowa, we’ll see a population growth.”

Opponents

The 39-year-old Campbell, a Manning resident and attorney, also took aim at his opponents during the Creston stop.

In immediate opposition is 27-year-old Democrat Mike Denklau of Council Bluffs. Denklau and Campbell will square off in the June 8 primary election.

“I think my opponent has said he has been a leader on Wall Street,” Campbell said of Denklau. “I think he’s got being a professional confused with being a leader.”

Citing Denklau’s lack of experience and roots in Iowa, Campbell said he was more qualified for the U.S. Congress seat with Denklau being “pretty green for the job.”

Campbell believes his experiences as a regional lead of international taxation at BKD — the 10th-largest accounting firm in the U.S. — law-firm work and stint with Sen. Tom Harkin’s office in Sioux City gave him the required knowledge, despite having never held a public office.

King

Campbell’s message was clear when it came to four-term Republican U.S. Rep. Steve King.

“It’s time to rotate the crop for a better yield,” he said. “He’s not doing anything in office.”

According to Campbell, King spends more time focusing on re-election than policy work, and has never written a bill that became law.

Calling King a “Libertarian” and “modern-day Joseph McCarthy” who won’t debate, lacks “smarts” and “doesn’t listen to the other side,” Campbell said he got into the race because of King’s poor record in office.

“The man truly is an extremist,” said Campbell. “I think he’s dangerous for western Iowa. I think he’s dangerous for America.”

Campbell outlined a “two-prong attack” against King that involves showing constituents that King “hasn’t done anything” and “makes extremist remarks.” Part of Campbell’s campaign, if he survives the primary election, will be an attempt to get King to debate the issues.

“I think we need congressmen who say the right thing at the right time,” said Campbell.