One – Mike understands how government can work and knows how to make it work.

Two – He works with and talks to everyone, not just a small group of his cronies.

Three – He has a real world understanding of people’s lives and thinks about the consequences of bills and laws and the impact on ordinary people.

Four – Mike has tremendous experience fighting tough political fights and has the strategic mind to develop a plan and the grit to follwo throuhg and make it work.  No on-the-job training needed here!

Five – He listens.  My own experience is that Mike is always available to listen.  He also almost never agrees with everything I ask for, but he listens and speaks honestly with me.

Six – I trust him because he speaks honestly instead of pandering to me or the interest that I represent to him as a citizen.

Seven – Mike Gronstal works very hard.  He understands that a leader needs to work as hard or harder than those following the leader.  Also smarter.

Eight – I think it is very important that our governor have lived in a community other than the three largest (Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Quad Cities.)  Why? Because the vast majority of our population does not live in those communities. We need a governor who understands the needs and problems of all the communities of Iowa.

Nine – As Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal has been in senate districts across the state meeting with community leaders, recruiting candidates, and campaiging.  He knows Peosta from Pella from Palo.

Ten – Finally Mike has a strong working relationship with the business community in Iowa.  Many of my Democratic friends might think this is less than favorable, but we’re all in this together and just as we need a vibrant education system in Iowa, we also need a vibrant business community.  Mike gets that and understands how to strike a balance between business investment and corporate greed.