An open seat in the Iowa State Senate has sparked a lively three-way race, generating spirited discussion of issues concerning northern Iowa citizens.

Merlin Bartz, a farmer in the Grafton area, is the Republican candidate for District 6 in the Iowa Senate. His Democratic opponent is Doug Thompson, who farms near Kanawha. An independent challenger from Northwood, Kenny Abrams, has joined the battle.

Budget concerns, education funding and job creation were listed as key issues in the race by Bartz and Thompson. Abrams could not be reached in time for this article’s deadline.

Bartz has previously served as a representative in the Iowa State Legislature from 1991 to 2002. A state budget that has risen 17 percent in the past two years has him concerned. Bartz said in an interview that the state is using one-time funds to pay for ongoing expenses and robbing from special funds to pay for special projects.

“They are moving nutshells around,” Bartz said. “The budget has grown more in Gov. Culver’s administration than it did in eight years under Tom Vilsack.”

His Democratic opponent also voiced some concerns about the budget but is more sanguine about the outlook. Thompson, who ran in the Democratic primary for the Iowa Senate in 1996, sees projections of less state revenue as an ongoing challenge for legislators.

“We have a mandate to maintain a balanced budget,” Thompson said. “I don’t think we are in a panic situation.”

Last spring’s heavy flooding will put more pressure on legislators to find ways to help citizens affected by the disaster.

Both candidates said that education issues will be a prime concern for the next legislative session. The 6th Senatorial District comprises parts or all of five rural counties. It does not include Mason City. Fifteen school districts operate in the area. The past 10 years have seen a drop of 2,000 students combined among the schools. State funding per student is $5,000 a year. The decline in enrollment represents a financial loss of $10 million over this time period. Transportation costs for area schools have risen dramatically with the recent surge in fuel prices.

Developing a formula to help schools cope with the increased costs would be a priority for Bartz, if elected. Fuel costs did serious damage to school budgets this year, and Thompson would also like to work in the Legislature to find additional funds for school transportation.

“Our rural school districts have a unique set of circumstances in regard to transportation,” Thompson said. “If our students are to have a well-rounded education, we must fund transportation more effectively.”

Illegal immigration and job creation are other challenges facing north central Iowa in coming years. Bartz is a strong proponent of the promotion of English as America’s first language, and would continue to defend that position as a state senator.

“We have a lot of illegal aliens coming up the I-35 corridor and it needs to stop,” Bartz said.

For Thompson, the coming of Hispanic and other immigrants to northern Iowa is part of ongoing demographic change.

“Immigration is changing the face of rural Iowa. Only the federal government has the power to change the current situation,” Thompson said. “I don’t think the Iowa Legislature can have much impact on this.”

Economic growth can be driven by the excellent transportation and communications network in northern Iowa, of which I-35 is a key component, said Thompson.

“The Legislature can help smaller employers to grow and prosper in northern Iowa, if it is carried through,” Thompson said.

Bartz is a strong proponent of renewable energy and would like Iowa to mandate blended fuels, as Minnesota currently does.

“We can do more to promote wind based energy as well,” Bartz said.

Other electoral races in Worth County include county supervisor, sheriff and state representative.

The battle for state representative in District 11 will be contested by longtime incumbent Republican Harry Rayhons, Garner, and Democratic challenger Ann Marie Fairchild, Fertile. The Worth County sheriff contest is between Republican incumbent David Gentz, Northwood and Democrat Jay Langenbau, Hanlontown. District 2 on the Worth County Board of Supervisors will be up for grabs between independent Jim Rice and Democrat Dave Haugen, both of Hanlontown.