Four House District 66 Hopefuls Debate Issues

Four House District 66 Hopefuls Debate Issues
Candidates Discuss Gay Marriage, Homelessness

Four candidates want to replace longtime State Rep. Ed Fallon in House District 66.

That's an area that includes downtown Des Moines and several surrounding neighborhoods. The downtown house district is overwhelmingly Democratic and has been for years.

Besides the traditional Democratic and Republican challengers, independent and Libertarian candidates joined in Tuesday's forum on J. Michael McKoy's radio program on WOW-FM.

All the candidates said they are against gay marriage, that they do not in support bringing back the Touchplay machines, and they agreed crime, drugs, prostitution and homelessness are some of the key issues in the district.

So how would they fix the problems?

"My (plan) would be one of using a special forum that already exists and find out what we can do about the problem," said independent candidate Jeff Johannsen.

"The current system that addresses addiction is not working. We need to have better treatment programs instead of incarceration," said Republican candidate Jack Whitver.

"We need to fund those treatment centers. We have to have jobs and job training," said Democratic candidate Ako Abdul-Samad.

"We can look to other districts and other bigger cities to see what they are doing to end homelessness," said Libertarian candidate Brett Blanchfield.