Well, my three-part series on this year’s gubernatorial race has come to a close. The first two segments were objective profiles of both Tom Vilsack and Jim Lightfoot. So to wrap things up, I would like to share my opinion on the candidates and urge all of you to get out there and vote.

As Iowans, this is one of the most important elections you will ever vote in. With our student’s falling test scores, the failing farm economy, a methamphetamine crisis and hog lot controversy, there is a big challenge awaiting our next leader. Furthermore, this is the first time in 16 years that Iowa will not be governed by Terry Branstad, and it could be the first time in 30 years that Iowa will be run by a Democrat. Most importantly, the man we choose as our next governor will be taking this state into the next century.

Jim Ross Lightfoot is probably a nice person, but there is no way I would choose him to run the state.

Lightfoot has never worked a day in the state government; therefore, he has no idea how a state budget works. Sure, he’s worked with a national budget of billions of dollars. However, was that budget ever balanced while he was in office? No. Even further, was Lightfoot’s own checkbook balanced while he was in office? Not according to the General Accounting Office. It said Lightfoot bounced 105 checks at the House Bank.

When asked to explain, Jim said, “Nobody’s perfect.” Well, Jim, I’m not asking for perfection. But in my next governor, I want a little common sense and the ability to do some simple math.

Lightfoot went on to call the scandal “a damn mess” of which he blamed “Democrats, bankers and the House Sergeant-at-Arms.” He never took responsibility for his actions (Des Moines Register, 3/18/92).

Let’s pretend for a second that none of it was his fault. If that was true, I bet in 1996, his credit card debt of $25,000 was some democrat’s fault too, eh (Des Moines Register, 3/18/92)?

Lightfoot’s math problems spill into his tax plan as well. Like many Republicans, Lightfoot wants to cut taxes. Looking at Iowa’s current tax system, that’s a completely valid move. Vilsack knows this; he floor-managed the largest property tax relief bill in the history of Iowa. He wants to do more. Vilsack knows that the inheritance tax, the capital gains, the pension tax and the $45 million in hidden taxes all need immediate attention.

However, Lightfoot wants to cut too much. He calls for a 25 percent cut in income taxes across the board. He wants to eliminate property taxes as a revenue source for local schools. Currently, local schools receive $1.1 billion from this tax revenue (Iowa Press, 8/14/98). What will they do when he takes it away? He also wants to eliminate the social security, property and capital gains taxes. The list goes on and on. State treasurer Michael Fitzgerald, a conservative with 16 years of treasurer experience, said there is absolutely no way Lightfoot’s tax plan can work.

“His plan specifically calls for a 3 percent increase in state spending each year when Iowa has increased its spending 5 to 7 percent each year for the past 16 years. Three percent is not realistic, it’s reckless,” Fitzgerald said.

Aside from what Lightfoot wants to do, let’s look at his record. While a U.S. Senator, he voted against the American’s with Disabilities Act (5/22/90, House Vote 123) and against the Family and Medical Leave Act (2/3/93, HV 22). What a caring individual.

Lightfoot cares a lot about education, too. He voted to slash federal education programs to finance large tax breaks for wealthy Americans (5/18/95, HV 345; 7/11/96, HV 303). I guess since he only attended college for a couple of semesters, education never has been a top priority for him.

Lightfoot is big on the environment. In fact, he was the first Iowan named to the League of Conservation Voter’s “Dirty Dozen” list by voting against the Clean Air Act (5/23/90, HV 137; 10/26/90, HV 525), and voting to gut the Clean Water Act (5/16/95, HV 961).

Lightfoot received $21,650 from tobacco companies and $47,000 from the National Rifle Association. Is it a coincidence he voted to repeal the assault weapons ban (3/22/96, HV 92) and against the ban of smoking on airplanes (8/2/89, HV 204)?

Tom Vilsack is the better candidate — he’ll make a damn good governor. As a city mayor in the small town of Mt. Pleasant and an Iowa State Senator in Des Moines, he knows how Iowa’s government works. Vilsack knows the state budget and has offered a reasonable tax relief program that would provide $120 million in property tax relief and eliminate the $45 million in hidden taxes we pay each year.

I’m not the only one who supports Vilsack. He has been endorsed by the Iowa Chapter of the Sierra Club, the Iowa State Education Association and the Iowa Farm Bureau as their candidate for governor.

Vilsack is behind in the polls, but Iowa will be the loser if Lightfoot wins. He has not, and will not, look out for Iowa’s best interests.

His voting record proves that. It proves that he says one thing and does another. Lightfoot is not the next coming of Christ; he has proved to us over and over that he is nothing but another self-serving, talking head politician.

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Sarah Leonard is a senior in political science and journalism from Lawler.