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‘We can do better’

Former Governor Tom Vilsack stumps for legislative candidate Mike Tupper at El Portal

By Lana Bradstream 7 min read

Former Iowa Governor and United States Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack made a special stop at El Portal in Marshalltown Wednesday to explain why Marshalltown residents should vote for Mike Tupper.

Tupper, the retired chief of the Marshalltown Police Department, is the Democratic candidate for the District 52 House of Representatives seat and is facing Republican incumbent David Blom of Marshalltown, a union sheet metal worker who is seeking his second term in office. Vilsack said Tupper is a man who spent his life in public service and knows the job is about working for what the people need.

"You've got a great candidate to be supportive of," he said.

When Vilsack was elected governor in 1999, he said Iowans were tired of one-party control and ready for change. He sees the same attitude now as people struggle to buy a home, the quality of public education has fallen, citizens have lost health insurance and water quality and economic development have reduced.

"So folks, it makes a difference who's in charge, and what we need to do is begin the process of turning this state around," Vilsack said. "So we can get back to a point where our schools are something we can talk about, where we can get back to a point where we are a compassionate and caring state which takes care of people, where we get back to a state which understands and appreciates investing in natural resources and we're a state which creates economic activity which encourages young people to live here."

He said Tupper is the candidate to help turn Iowa around and encouraged everyone to talk to five people each day about how he is the best candidate for the job.

"Let me finish by saying this is truly a great state, and I've talked to too many Iowans who have watched their children and grandchildren leave," Vilsack said. "It wasn't because they wanted to go to those places. It was because they felt they needed to. We can do better. We need leadership in Des Moines who understands what this job is about, which is listening to people, caring about people, making decisions which are right for the people, not for the party or the donors, who understands the significance and importance of community. That's what you have in this guy. He's a solid guy. He's a solid candidate. . . . Let's get him elected."

Before Vilsack spoke, Tupper told the roughly 50 people gathered for the campaign event that he is not a politician and has no desire to make it a career following retirement from 32 years in law enforcement, including 13 as the chief of the MPD.

"I don't want to do this long term, but public service is in my heart," he said. "We talk less politics, more public service. We need more public servants in Des Moines. We have too many politicians on both sides of the aisle, by the way . . . We need more public service in Des Moines, and that's why I'm running. That’s why I want to be your representative and I hope you will trust me with your vote."

Doing what is best for the community, he added, means representing the people who vote for him, and those who do not. Tupper said that is what he did during his time as chief.

He brought up the attack ads that have aired and been printed about him.

"It's kind of funny to me that the 'Back the Blue' party is kicking the crap out of a guy who spent 32 years in law enforcement and criticizing me for a lot of different things," he said.

Tupper believes the MPD was strong on crime during his tenure as chief. Arrests were down during that time, and he attributed that to the outreach and the programs the department had in place.

"We were doing things in the community to try to help people on the front end of issues and keep them out of the criminal justice system," Tupper said. "Because I learned as a police officer, if I have to arrest you, the crime has already occurred, so I've already failed. Number two, sending someone to jail usually doesn't solve the problem. It oftentimes makes it worse, and in this state, we lock up a lot of people by calling them drug dealers who are dealing with mental health and addiction issues. They just need some help. We need to do a better job."

Talking about public safety is a subject Tupper can spend hours on, and he added that the legislature has an impact on it. Some recent legislation regarding immigration would have made a large segment of the population fearful of law enforcement, he argued.

"That diminishes public safety," he said. "I fought that two years ago when I was police chief. I fought against it after I retired, and I will continue to fight against it. People who live here and work here need to feel safe, and can go to law enforcement for help."

Tupper wants to improve public education, property taxes and home insurance, housing and affordability, the latter of which has come starkly into focus over the last year.

"I don't feel like our representatives in Des Moines have taken this issue seriously, and are looking out for working class folks," he said. "The middle class has been lost, and we need to find a pathway to the middle class for hard-working families. . . . Folks doing the work in this community and this state are the backbone and we need to quit kicking them and knocking them down for big money interests."

Showing the voters who he is has been a big part of Tupper’s campaign. In the beginning, he was advised during a video shoot to remove a beaded bracelet from his wrist, one his daughter made for him, because it made him look soft.

"I refused," he said. "I wear it everyday, and it reminds me of her. It reminds me of my duty and responsibility to my family to be the best person I can be. . . . I don't take this off."

Tupper then revealed a cross necklace he has worn for 20 years as a representation of his faith, which he said is a cornerstone of everything he does.

"As importantly, my oldest daughters gave me this," he said. "I don't take it off, except on rare occasions. . . . It's important to me to be close to my family and remind me of my faith, and remind me of my responsibilities and duties to my family and the community."

If elected, Tupper said he will take the bracelet and necklace with him to Des Moines, along with the ideas and concerns of constituents. That way, he can be the best representative for Marshalltown.

Keeping elected officials accountable is a vital piece of the puzzle. Tupper said if he is elected and people see he is doing things he was not asked to do, they should talk to him to set him straight.

"My pledge to you is I will hold monthly meetings in the community during the session," he said. "I want your input. I need your help. If I make it there, I'm going to need your help to be successful, so we can all be successful."

Contact Lana Bradstream at 641-753-6611 ext. 210 or lbradstream@timesrepublican.com.

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