Editor's Note: We continue our candidate profiles today with an introduction of Paula "Polly" Denison, the Democratic candidate for Iowa House District 75. As with all of our candidate profiles, we offer this in the candidate's own words: I grew up in Iowa City, Iowa. I graduated from the University of Iowa with a Bachelor of Arts in 1991. I always knew I wanted to work in government using my skills to help people. I worked at the Arizona Department of Health Services. I returned to Iowa and was lucky enough to work at the Johnson County Attorney's Office. I gained invaluable experience and insight into public service, transparency, and accountability. I continued to work in the legal field until 2013. Presently, I live in Van Horne with my husband, Neal Denison. I am an insurance agent, I own my agency and work through Farmers Insurance. I chose Farmers because of its strong support of education. I am an active in the Van Horne Lions Club, Benton Development Group, as well as the Benton County Democrats, and more recently, the Iowa County Democrats. I have been lucky enough to work with the Light up Van Horne and Van Horne Music Fest Committees. As your State Representative, I will prioritize the following issues:
  • Education. We need to ensure the proper and timely funding of education.
  • Privatization of Medicaid. Too many Iowans, both recipients and providers have been hurt by the unilateral decision of Governor Branstad to move the administration of the Medicaid program to private for profit insurance companies.
  • Renewable and Sustainable Energy. We need to continue advancing Iowa's leadership position in sound renewable and sustaining energy policies that promote Iowa's natural resources, including biofuels, wind, and solar.
  • Promotion of safe, well-paying jobs in Iowa. I believe in a livable wage and work place safety. No person who works 40 hours a week should have to rely on government assistance for life's basic needs.
-- Paula "Polly" Denison