Education was the focus for democratic gubernatorial candidate John Norris during a stop in Davenport Thursday. It kicked off the final day of his 6-day announcement tour of Iowa.
Norris told local democratic activists and several members of the Davenport school board the state has given up on its long-time slogan, "first in the nation in education."
"I think we get locked in this crazy conversation about should it be 1 per cent or 2 per cent, and what does the Farm Bureau say it should be, instead of what are the needs of our children. We should have a government that reflects that value we have of public education."
Norris says government in Iowa today is driven by money instead of what's best for the people.
A native of Red Oak, he's worked as aide to US Senator Tom Harkin, and to Tom Vilsack when he served as governor and then US Secretary of Agriculture.
His announcement tour ended late Thursday afternoon with a stop in Dubuque, and a discussion of "Iowa values."
