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Dave Muhlbauer, Democratic candidate for Lieutenant Governor, spoke to an audience of 20 yesterday at The Elks in Webster City. The candidate forum was sponsored by Hamilton County Growth Partnership, (HCGP). As he introduced Muhlbauer, HCGP Executive Director Ottie Maxey said the Partnership would contact the Lahn campaign, so "voters get to hear from both sides." Greg Piklapp, Director Economic Development at the Ames Regional Economic Alliance, moderated the forum, making it clear the Alliance "never endorses individual candidates."
Dressed in jeans, boots and without a necktie, Muhlbauer described himself as "a farmer from Crawford County, where I've lived all my life." In business with members of his family, he raises row crops, hogs and cattle on a farm that's been in his family for five generations, between Manning and Manilla.
Muhlbauer said "local government is near and dear to me." He's in his second term as a Crawford County Supervisor, and also serves on the Board of the Iowa Association of Counties, a private, non-profit promoting responsible government. Previously, Muhlbauer has described his campaign as a "county-to-capital" effort.
Muhlbauer is a 6-year member of the Board of Manning Regional Healthcare Center, He called keeping health care viable in Iowa "a challenge." He said he's aware of the burden placed on rural residents living in "maternity deserts," places without regular OBGYN service. Manning lost its maternity unit in 2018, the same year Van Diest Medical Center discontinued its OBGYN care.
Muhlbauer feels strongly about health care. "It's a fight trying to attract health care providers to rural hospitals today," he said. "You have to think, what do our communities look like? Do they have good schools and recreation? Does someone from out of town feel they're a good place to live?"
"Privatizing Medicaid hasn't worked," he said. "We spend a lot of time fighting claim denials."
He said Iowa has seen a 900% increase in illegal claim denials, since Medicaid was privatized April 1, 2016. Then governor, Terry Branstad, said privatization was necessary if Medicaid was to be sustainable in Iowa. Muhlbauer said ending Medicaid privatization would be a priority "on day one," if he and Sand are elected this November.
City Councilman John Marvel had a question for Muhlbauer.
"My friends say there's no room for moderates in politics," he said. "What do you say?" Muhlbach confirmed Sand will "prioritize public service, not politics. He wants everybody at the table, and believes in working together for balanced government."
Janet Adams of Webster City, who represented Iowa's 14th House District in the legislature from 1987-1993, told Muhlbauer she served with his grandfather, Louis Muhlbauer. "He was a cheerleader for rural Iowa, " she said.
Adams, an advocate for local arts, said Iowa is "at the bottom of the heap in state support of the arts," and "hopes to see that improved." Muhlbauer agreed local arts add value, adding, "recent property tax changes make it harder to spend funds on anything."
Loween Getter, a retired teacher, asked where Muhlbauer stood on "capping or eliminating private school vouchers.
"They make it harder for public schools to thrive," she said. Muhlbauer cited Iowa's slide, from top-ranked public schools to "now 27th in the nation," as something he would "work with Republicans" to improve the situation. "Private schools should follow the same rules as public schools," he added.
Former State Representative McKinley Bailey told Muhlbauer "we're sitting on a ticking time bomb," a reference to the state's projected $1.2 billion general fund budget deficit for fiscal year 2027. Bailey said the state, which is projected to run out of its reserves in 2-3 years, reminded him of "the dog that caught the car." Again, Muhlbauer, realizing if elected, he and Sand would find themselves negotiating with a Republican-dominated legislature, would only say, "it will mean finding a better way to work together."
Bailey complimented Muhlbauer for his "good work" on the Early Childhood Iowa State Board.
Muhlbauer's term on that board ends next April.
Following the forum, Muhlbauer took a tour of The Elks, calling it, "a beautiful building."