An objective observer who has been reading letters to the editor supporting the two Democratic candidates for the Iowa Senate would certainly conclude that Herman Quirmbach is the strongest and most electable candidate. The diversity of his supporters, their standing in the community, the specific accomplishments they cite, as well as the projects they’ve worked on with Herman reflect the broad and positive impact he has had on the community – as an educator, council person and proven community leader.

But there’s another dimension of Herman Quirmbach that hasn’t been mentioned – what I would call political courage: his willingness to take stands on issues of principle, even when he has to stand against powerful interests. Quirmbach has done this, as has Senator Johnie Hammond and any other public servant worth his or her salt.

Quirmbach, an Iowa State economics professor, was one of the leaders in opposing the referendum to increase the hotel-motel tax to finance the premium seating in Hilton Coliseum for high-dollar athletic donors. Using his economic research skills, Quirmbach challenged the figures of the powerful promoters and forced them to scale down their claims. A broad, bipartisan community effort – including a joint press release by the ISU Democrats and the Campus Republicans – then succeeded in defeating the tax-increase measure.

Quirmbach, along with fellow professor Neil Harl, Senator Hammond, and retired extension leader C.J. Gauger, filed an open-records request that was partly responsible for bringing to the public’s attention the details surrounding the scandalous handling of the Powers’ estate by the ISU Foundation and the ISU Agricultural Foundation.

Quirmbach cast a minority vote against a $30,000 tax abatement for a luxury condominium project. His position was that such subsidies would be better spent to encourage affordable housing in Ames so that more persons who work in the city can also live here.

There are times in political life when a leader needs to build coalitions, as Herman Quirmbach helped to do with Hallett’s Quarry and the smoke-free dining ordinance. There are also times when a leader must be able to take a stand of principle. Herman Quirmbach is the only candidate in the senate race who has demonstrated he can do both.

Vote for Herman Quirmbach today and Nov. 6.

Bill Kunerth

Ames