Budget: “We balanced Iowa’s budget this year without a tax increase. As a result of our sound fiscal management, Iowa is one of only nine states to earn a AAA credit rating from all three major ratings agencies,” Quirmbach said in an e-mail.

“The national recession forced us to make tough choices,” Quirmbach said, “but we did succeed in restoring $30 million to the Regents budget for this year, thus allowing ISU students to get a refund of the $100 tuition surcharge. And, we won passage of another $9 million for the Regents for next year.”

Health Care: “We have succeeded in making affordable health insurance available to all Iowa kids, and have been ahead of the nation in allowing young graduates to stay on their parents’ policies until they can get coverage of their own.” Quirmbach said.

Jobs and economic development: Quirmbach said despite the national recession, the state has created a good business climate for jobs. “Iowa’s unemployment rate is 10th lowest in the country, and Ames’ unemployment rate is half the national rate,” Quirmbach said.

He noted Forbes Magazine ranked Ames and four other Iowa cities in the top 10 percent of smaller metro areas for best places for business and careers and ranked Des Moines No. 1 for large metro areas. CNBC ranked Iowa No. 4 overall among the top states for business.

Background: Quirmbach has been state senator for District 23 since 2003, serving as chair of the Local Government Committee and vice-chair of the Education Budget Subcommittee. He also serves on the Iowa College Student Aid Commission, and the Education, Human Resources, Judiciary and Ways and Means Committees.

Quirmbach received a B.A. in Government from Harvard University, and a M.A. and Ph.D. in Economics from Princeton University. He is currently an associate professor of economics at Iowa State. Previously, Quirmbach served on Ames City Council, from 1995 through 2003.