Candidates for the Iowa Legislature shared their views on issues ranging from restaurant smoking bans to Iowa’s aging population Tuesday.

Present at the state candidate forum were candidates running for three House seats, representing the 10th, 45th and 46th Districts.

Running for the 10th District seat are incumbent Rep. Jim Kurtenbach, R-Nevada, and Democratic challenger Tracy Runkel.

Kurtenbach’s candidacy is focused on tax reform and small business development.

“During my first term, I focused on tax policy issues,” he said. “We have to stay focused on tax policy.”

Kurtenbach advocates restructuring the tax system to attract business to Iowa, which he said was 49th in the nation in terms of business start-ups. He also opposes any efforts to create a local smoking ban in bars and restaurants, calling it an “issue of pre-emption” that could give local government too much influence on state law.

“Smoking is so detrimental to our health, and people have to realize that,” said Runkel, who supports allowing local smoking bans.

Runkel’s candidacy is focused on health issues, such as expanding Medicare and Medicaid.

“We need to promote our family values,” she said. “It all starts with our education programs.”

Democrat Beth Wessel-Kroeschell, who is running for the 45th District, said she believes in using education to bring young people to Iowa.

“We have been a leader in education,” Wessel-Kroeschell said. “We are losing that leadership.”

Wessel-Kroeschell supports expanding the work-study program and education grants and opposes tuition increases. She is in favor of local smoking ordinances and said too many students smoke.

“I support local communities making these types of decisions,” Wessel-Kroeschell said.

Her opponent, Republican Randy Woodbury, said municipal laws such as a smoking ban would weaken state government. Woodbury supports restructuring the tax system to attract business to Iowa.

“Young people want a well-paying career,” he said. “We can be more fiscally responsible at the state level.”

Eric Cooper, a candidate for the 46th district seat, stressed the importance of business.

“Solve state problems using free-market solutions,” he said. “Activities that the free market could provide should not be done by the state.”

Eric Cooper, a libertarian from Ames, said he believes privatizing public institutions and lowering taxes would attract business to Iowa, calling the state a monopoly that interferes with business. Cooper said the smoking ban represents the majority forcing its will on others, and said smoking bans should be left up to individual restaurants.