Affordability, cross-state competitiveness central in Carter Lake candidate's Statehouse run
Eric Armstrong often jogs from his Iowa home to neighboring Omaha, Nebraska.
The Carter Lake candidate for the Iowa Statehouse lives in a part of Iowa located west of the Missouri River, near the Omaha airport.
Armstrong sees up close what works for Omaha and western Iowa, what doesn’t, and how Iowa House District 20, which includes Carter Lake and Council Bluffs in Iowa, can better leverage its proximity to Omaha, a midwestern city that’s experienced strong growth, especially near Carter Lake with a major airport project and riverfront development in the Old Market.
Armstrong, a Democrat, a former railroad executive and entrepreneur who worked for General Electric, among other companies, sees economic-development opportunities for western Iowa. It’s at the center of his campaign.
“For far too long communities like Carter Lake and Council Bluffs have been playing on an uneven playing field,” Armstrong said in his announcement speech Friday in downtown Council Bluffs. “If we look over in Nebraska, we’ve all seen it. When we go across that bridge, what do we see? We see buildings. We see cranes. We see growth. But when when we come home we see missed opportunities.”
Armstrong strongly supports boosting tax incentives for Iowa businesses. Iowa, particularly in some borders areas, is at a disadvantage, he said.
He also supports increasing the minimum wage “incrementally.” Omaha is attracting employees from western Iowa with higher wages, Armstrong said.
“They are going to be at $18 an hour in two years and we are still stuck at $7.25,” Armstrong said.
Armstrong is positioning himself as a bipartisan pragmatist lasered in on the economy.
Armstrong is running for the Iowa House seat being vacated by State Rep. Josh Turek who is seeking a seat in the U.S. Senate.
Turek has endorsed long-time supporter Armstrong. Turek credits Armstrong’s advocacy for helping him win as a Democrat in a decidedly red district.
Iowa House Minority Leader Brian Meyer, D-Des Moines, attended Armstrong’s announcement.
Meyer said Armstrong’s focus on public education and affordability will work well with voters in a cycle in which they’re demanding change.
“We are the serious party,” Meyer said.
Armstrong is also spotlighting improved support for educators, and expanded access to pre-K childcare.
An avid runner Armstrong plans to be active in grassroots campaigning in the district with an aim to hit 10,000 doors to talk with voters.
“I look at knocking on those 10,000 doors as a privilege,” Armstrong, 66, said. “I am really happy to be able to go out and do this.”
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