Hans Erickson (right), Democratic candidate to represent Iowa’s 47th House district, spoke with those who also talked with gubernatorial candidate Jack Hatch Oct. 26 at Prairie Blue in Jefferson. He is pictured with Hatch (center) and Democratic county co-chair David Morain (left).
Erickson is a 2004 graduate of Boone High School and holds a bachelor’s degree in history and a master’s degree in public administration from Drake University. He served as a legal intern in Gov Chet Culver’s office and as a clerk for state Sen. Daryl Beall. He is challenging incumbent Republican Chip Baltimore.
Erickson said that if he is elected, he would work toward education being the top priority in the state budget, with state funding for preschool for all 4-year-olds. He would also champion expansion of renewable energy in the state.
He would not only support an increase of the state minimum wage to $10.10, but he would support indexing the minimum wage in the same way as Social Security benefits. “If you don’t do that, you’ll have the same political fight again five years from now,” he said, and added that $19 an hour has been calculated as the “livable wage” in Iowa.
He has spent the last several weeks personally knocking on doors and talking with voters in Iowa’s 47th district, which includes Greene and Boone Counties. “I’m listening the people’s thoughts and concerns, and I tell them that I can’t affect change in everything, but I can be an advocate of change for them.”
