Government : Meet the Candidate: House District 75 candidate Tom Gerhold

Editor’s Note: As always, Vinton Today invites all of our political candidates to share in their own words their life story and their goals for the office they are seeking. Today we hear from GOP House District 75 candidate Tom Gerhold. Here is Tom's story, in his own words: I was raised on a farm – and taught the meaning of life, hard work, compassion, honesty, and integrity in a Christian home by wonderful parents, and wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.  I have incorporated good points from my parents, grandparents, siblings, cousins, etc. to make me a better person. The important issues facing Iowans, not necessarily in this order, are agriculture, education, health care/mental health, and taxes.  The prices of ag commodities have not been very good and need more ways of promoting uses and customers here and abroad. Education is always an important issue, and preparing today’s students for the challenges of tomorrow with the best teachers possible and keep Iowa one of the best in the country is a priority. Healthcare and mental health care costs need to be improved.  It’s not right for premiums to cost so much, and I will work with professionals in these areas to lower costs without affecting the quality of care. Taxes paid by hard working Iowans can and should be lowered.  There are studies that prove when taxes are lowered, it brings in more revenue to the Treasury. There are wonderful people in District 75 with great ideas, and I plan on working with them to make this great state of Iowa even better! See his Facebook page HERE. Tom also answered some of our fun, silly questions: Q. Is there anything that your family asks you not to cook, ever again? A. Not that I know of ? Q. Does it matter in your house which way the toilet paper roll goes? A. Yes for me. Q. Tell us about your favorite chair? A. Recliner and it’s comfortable for my legs to be up in the air for hours! Q. Best fast food sandwich ever? A. Wendy’s triple Q. What was your first job? A. Baling hay. Q. If you were to get a traffic citation it would most likely be for…. A. Speeding. Q. One place in the world you really, really wish you could visit? A. Kassel, Hessen, Germany Q. First pet you remember? A. Lassie Q. Who was your favorite teacher, and why? A. 6-way tie between Mr. William Levenhagen, Irvin Glinsman, Don Logan, Reese Morgan, Don Roquet, and Leroy Price. I think all of my teachers were great, but these were great with me by pushing me to be better, and had a great sense of humor too. Q. Favorite candy bar? A. Heath bar Q. Iowa or Iowa State? A. Iowa Q. Are there any sayings your parents repeated over and over that you can still remember clearly? A. What do you say? (answer: thank you) Q. Favorite Actor: A. John Wayne Q. Favorite President: A. President Ronald Reagan Q. Favorite planet: A. Earth Q. What happened to the dinosaurs? A. died…. Q. Favorite car? A. A tie between my diesel and convertible. Q. Favorite song? A. too many to choose from.