Iowa has never elected a woman to represent the state in the United States House of Representatives or Senate.
Staci Appel, a Democratic-nominee from Ackworth, is building momentum to set Iowa history and challenge incumbent Republican Tom Latham for Iowa’s 3rd Congressional House seat.
A former member of the Iowa Senate in 2006, Appel has experience in leadership roles passing legislation as a freshman legislator. She fought for Iowa’s statewide smoking ban, preschool for every 4-year-old and led the charge to make Iowa the first state in the nation to require equal pay for equal work.
“My service in the Iowa Senate definitely stands for itself,” Appel said. “It shows where I worked across the aisle to pass bills.”
In light of the recent government shutdown, she believes in keeping an open dialogue to help find a middle ground.
“We’ve got to keep American moving forward, and we need to keep Iowa moving forward,” Appel said. “We are not always going to agree, but there is some middle ground in some of these issues.”
One of Appel’s first goals in Congress would be to help get the farm bill passed and ensure farmers have equal access to the market.
“It should have been passed a long time ago,” Appel said.
She also wants to continue to fund alternative energy to reduce dependence on oil.
As a wife of 16 years and mother of six children ranging from high school to preschool in age, Appel also advocates the women’s right to accessible and necessary health care.
She also wants to use her experience in the Iowa Senate to help create a national preschool program with quality standards.
“They are coming into kindergarten and they are ready to learn,” Appel said in reference to Iowa’s 4-year-old preschool programs.
Appel has been named a jumpstart candidate by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and endorsed by Emily’s List — an organization that helps pro-choice women get elected to office.
“It was a democratic-leaning district, and Obama won the district (in 2012),” Appel said. “National money, national support comes in to the Staci Appel campaign because this is who we want, this is who we need, this is who we can beat (Latham).”
Appel is planning a return trip to Creston Saturday for the Iowa Democratic Party 3rd Congressional District Fall Fundraiser at the restored Creston Depot. She is planning on making a homemade apple pie to contribute to the pie auction.