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IowaPolitics.com: Ed Fallon Profile
11/2/2005

This profile appeared in the Nov. 2 edition of the IowaPolitics.com REPORT, sent exclusively to IowaPolitics.com subscribers.

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By Chris Dorsey

Boosters say State Rep. Ed Fallon, D-Des Moines, could be considered a lawmaker for the people. The long-time state legislator has served seven terms in the Iowa House. His hard stances against gambling and for environmental causes have thrust him into media attention over the years at the Iowa Statehouse.

The Democrat knows he has a fight on his hands to attain his party's gubernatorial nomination. As other candidates continue to raise large sums of campaign money, Fallon is sticking to his principles — and more importantly, the issues. He says his record shows the kind of governor he will be.

Fallon's gubernatorial campaign mirrors past bids for the Statehouse. He is dedicated to running positive campaigns and not taking large amounts of special interest money. It is these principles that have Fallon calling for campaign finance reform -- he says it's ridiculous that nearly $1 million was spent in a recent Iowa Senate race.

The long-time lawmaker's fight for the environment begins with factory farms. He contends the large animal operations are harmful to Iowa's environment. He recommends a need for more local control.

Nearly one year ago, Fallon toured Iowa touting the need for an improved educational system. However, that requires more funding, which he said the state has fallen short of providing. To keep high education standards, he cites a need for higher teacher pay and says college tuition costs, which have increased significantly in the last five years, need to be reeled in.

Rising property taxes are becoming burdensome for many Iowa families, Fallon said. Communities' use of tax abatement and tax increment financing is creating a larger burden on all property owners and should be examined, the candidate said.

Iowa's Department of Human Services Department has come under fire in recent years, and Fallon is among those sparking the flame. The Des Moines man said it is important to reorganize the department — giving more power locally — in an effort to help maximize the delivery of services.

Fallon, like all gubernatorial candidates, wants to see Iowa grow. That means jobs — good paying jobs, but the candidate questions Iowa's current economic development practices, including the highly touted Iowa Values Fund, which he says is flawed. His economic development policy would be to "invest and reinvest in infrastructure" that would be used to lure and attract new businesses to Iowa. He cites the MainStreet Iowa program as a viable option in helping communities grow, not helping large existing corporations showing millions in profits secure state funding for new buildings.


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