Meet the candidates

As the Dec. 8 special election for an open Iowa House seat draws closer, two candidates are looking to land their first term in the state legislature.

Tim Ennis, D-Corning, and Tom Moore, R-Griswold, will vie for the seat left vacant following the death of Rep. Jack Drake, R-Griswold, in October. House District 21 includes all of Union and Adams counties and portions of Pottawattomie and Cass counties.

With just more than two weeks left until Election Day, here’s a quick look at the candidates, their backgrounds and the issues that are important to them.

Tim Ennis, D-Corning

Ennis bio

Ennis, 68, is no stranger to House District 21, or to the election process. One year ago, Ennis faced Drake in the regular House election. Drake won with 60 percent of the vote.

Ennis was the lone Democratic candidate to file for this year’s special election and cemented his nomination during the Democratic nominating convention Nov. 12 in Massena.

Ennis spent his early life on his family’s dairy farm in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin. After high school, he accepted a scholarship to the University of Chicago and graduated in 1970 with a degree in economics.

In 1971, Ennis moved to Adams County to work for the then Corning-based National Farmers Organization Inc. From 1997 to 2004, Ennis worked on a program for beginning farmers called Ag Connect. Ennis has served on several local boards and committees, including 10 years as chairman of the Adams County Extension Council.

Ennis is currently director of grain marketing for National Farmers Organization and vice chairman of the Adams County Democrats.

The issues

Ennis said a major issue for him in the upcoming term is school funding. He said he did not agree with Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad’s line-item veto of a bipartisan compromise to send $55.7 million in one-time funding to local schools.

“I’m very dissatisfied after a hard effort by both sides to work out a compromise,” Ennis said. “I think school is our first responsibility. I think it’s one of the best things about America. Everybody is entitled to an education, and I think that’s a first responsibility.”

Ennis said he’s also concerned about Branstad’s move to privatize Medicaid. He said the estimates that it will save money are suspect and there “seems to be some smoke” in how the process is being carried out. He said there also seem to be some “black marks” on the records of a few of the companies involved.

“I believe that the people who’ve been doing it in the state system have done a good job, and I’m afraid that if there are any cost savings it will be at the expense of diminished services,” he said.

Ennis describes himself as a compromiser and a negotiator, and he said he’s willing to work with both sides to get things done.

“I believe that nobody should expect to have everything that they want,” Ennis said. “Even though I would be only one of 100 (representatives), I believe it would be a step in the right direction for a more balanced process in how we use our resources.”

Ennis lives in Corning with his wife, Kathy, and they will celebrate their 44th anniversary before the election. They have three grown children — Dustin, Carrie and Jillian — and three grandchildren.

Tom Moore, R-Griswold

Bio

Moore, 63, emerged from a crowded Republican field during the Republican Party’s special nominating convention in Corning Nov. 10. The retired teacher received 60.7 percent of the vote, defeating five other Republican candidates on the first ballot of the night.

Moore spent his early life in Grinnell and attended Westmar College in Le Mars, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in education. Moore then taught and coached seven years in Grinnell before moving to Griswold, where he would teach a variety of subjects and coach for another 26. Moore also holds a master’s degree in physical education with an emphasis in athletic administration from Northwest Missouri State University.

Following his retirement, Moore went to work as assistant manager at Southwest Iowa Egg Cooperative, a position he retired from in June of this year. Moore is currently in the middle of his second four-year term as a member of the Griswold Board of Education.

Moore said it was his background teaching American history and the Constitution that spurred him to run.

“I always had a fascination and an ambition to seek a legislative spot,” Moore said. “But I never really had the time or the opportunity because with the teaching job, I couldn’t give up half the school year to spend at the legislature.”

The issues

Moore said he wants to do what he can to ensure small government, strong budgeting and low taxes.

“Finances are going to be a major thing,” he said. “I’m a believer that we’ve got to keep government out of our lives as much as we can. Tax reduction — or minimizing taxes to support a state budget that is balanced — is very important to me.”

Moore said he’s also going in without a personal agenda or preconceived notions.

“I guess I’m more about people than I am about politics,” Moore said. “I want to go in and be able to listen and see what will be best for District 21.”

Regarding the debate over school funding, Moore said it’s an important issue that ultimately comes down to the available budget. However, he said some distinctions need to be made.

“I think we’ve got to start drawing a line between what we are actually doing for kids and what are the problems that the legislature and the national Deptartment of Education are creating for local school boards and local school districts with all their unfunded mandates,” Moore said.

Moore lives in Griswold with Jewell, his wife of 30 years. They have three grown children: Kaitlan, Thomas and Lauren.