At the forefront was the potential elimination of the workforce training program, 260E, a program administered by community colleges. Iowa Central Community College has had several local industries use this program for workforce training.

Latham, who announced Tuesday she would not be running for reelection, has personally used the 260E program, and had strong feelings concerning the effort to take that role away from the colleges. She indicated that there is a plan to create a similar program within the Workforce Development, but there is not a plan, or guidelines developed yet.

“This does not make any sense to me,” said Latham, “to kill this program and then give $30 million to Iowa Workforce Development–(IWD). This program is bonded, and it will come out of the taxpayers’ budget, (if it is in IWD).”

“I’d rather see the program revised,” said Latham, “So many of the small businesses don’t have the staff to do this training.”

“My concern is there is nothing that outlines how it will be used. Every small business I’ve ever worked with has not had the endorsement for IWD that they do for the community college,” she continued. “This program is working for small business owners.”

Jim Kersten, facilitator for the workshop and recently retired Iowa Central Community College vice president, was very familiar with the program and interjected some details concerning the program.

“It’s been around since 1983, and it’s basically self-funded,” said Kersten. “We are the only state in the country who has done this consistently.”

Guth focused on the property rights issues, using the hydrogen exploration as an example.

He explained that there are areas in Iowa that are starting to explore hydrogen extraction, but hydrogen doesn’t flow on just one piece of property. He’s concerned how it would impact neighboring land owners.

This is a subject being considered by Senate File bill 546.

“I liked it more when we had a farmer in charge of that committee,” said Guth.

“Iowa’s got the best place in the world for hydrogen,” he said. He explained that there have been planes using sonar to see where the hydrogen is most accessible.

“If there is a rock dome, it can be collected there,” he said, “We happen to have this in a band that goes from southwest Iowa to northeast Iowa.”

“And Iowans can use hydrogen better, because it is used in making anhydrous ammonia.” he concluded.

Guth also addressed the eminent domain issue. “I would support it if we could eliminate eminent domain entirely for anything that is not for public use,” he said.

SF 546 was originally submitted by Sen. Annette Sweeney of Hardin County. This was moved to the commerce committee, which is now chaired by Sen. Mike Bousselot of Polk County.

The hydrogen drilling bill, which was introduced by Sweeney, was initiated because Iowa needed updated legislation on this issue, according to Beau Klaver, who works for Sweeney in Des Moines.

Klaver, a graduate of Webster City High School and working as a senate aid in Des Moines, attended the forum and was able to answer some of the questions during the meeting. He was also introduced as one of the candidates who will be running for the seat that will be vacated by Latham in 2027.

Other Republicans who have announced they will be running for this seat include Kurtis Bower, of Roland; Brian Young, of Stanhope; and Bryson Zabel of Hampton.

Cynthia Oppedal Paschen is running on the Democratic ticket.

Latham is stepping down from this role, as she is also serving as the executive director for the Iowa FFA program. She took on this role in September 2025, and explained that it is just too much, in addition to running a small business.

A portion of the forum was recorded on Facebook live and is available for viewing on the Daily Freeman Journal Facebook page.