Chronicle Editorial

Election Day 2014

     Nearly everyone is now aware that next Tuesday marks the close to this seemingly never-ending election season. Mud has flown feverishly since June, and Nov. 4 certainly comes as a welcomed sight for most voters across the state.

     Television stations, radio airwaves and newspaper pages have been flooded by a slough of advertisements paid for by outside political action committees throughout the campaign. This is nothing new, but it's made it particularly difficult to wade through the negativity and actually determine a candidate's position; especially in the race for U.S. Senate. Democrat Bruce Braley and Republican Joni Ernst have had seemingly no control over their messages since the primary election. This has forced many Iowans to pick the candidate they dislike the least, which is alarming on many levels

     It’s a reality many voters will face when they head to the polls next Tuesday. Whoever wins will almost certainly face low approval ratings from the start as negative attacks have painted both Ernst and Braley in a negative light. The Senate already has dismal job ratings, and these two contenders aren't doing themselves any favors.

     Of course, Braley and Ernst's mud fight isn't the only contested battle for federal office in Iowa. All four seats in the U.S. House of Representatives are on the ballot in their respective districts. Two of those races could go either way, and it will be interesting to see who's left standing once the smoke clears next week. Iowa's representation in the U.S. House could change to Republican majority, it could go Democratic or it could simply remain split.

     Only two races are competitive at the local level, but that shouldn’t be a deterrent for turnout in Franklin County. It’s clear both parties have a lot at stake in the Iowa District 27 race – Democrats are trying to hold onto a slim majority in the Senate while Republicans are trying to seize it. The race between incumbent Democratic Sen. Amanda Ragan and her Republican challenger Shawn Dietz will play a significant role in whether the Senate stays blue or turns red. Your vote counts, and it will help shape the landscape of Iowa government for the immediate future.

     There are a handful of Independent candidates and other contenders on the ballot if you don't affiliate with the two major party labels. Please exercise your right to vote next Tuesday.

Good luck, Bulldogs!

     Today (Wednesday) marks the opening round to the high school football playoffs here in Iowa. Our very own Hampton-Dumont Bulldogs host Southeast Valley in Hampton tonight, and it's certainly an exciting time throughout the entire community.

     The Bulldogs came into the 2014 season with high expectations and they definitely delivered. The team roared to an 8-1 regular season record this year by overpowering opponents with a staunch defense and high-octane offense. H-D has been exciting to watch from September on out, and we're excited for the post season.

     These student athletes have put in a lot of time and effort to get this far, and that hasn't gone unnoticed. They've represented our community well and it's quite clear they're committed to success. Their hard work and dedication has resulted in a high playoff seed and a great chance at a deep playoff run, and that's certainly exciting for H-D students and fans throughout the area.

     Go Bulldogs!