Independent candidate for the U.S. Congress District 2 race Jody Puffett was collecting the last few signatures she needed to get herself on the ballot with a stop in Mount Vernon and Lisbon Tuesday, Aug. 13.
Puffett said she has been walking the main streets in the district to meet with constituents and collect signatures, as well as introduce herself to the electorate.
Puffett has lived in Edgewood for more than 36 years, aside from a brief stint when her husband, Jeff, was stationed in Florida during his time with the United States Navy.
Puffett and her husband have raised six children, three adopted from foster care. She is a graduate of West Delaware High School in Manchester and a graduate of the University of Northern Iowa with a degree in finance.
She has a daughter who works in special education and a daughter who works at a non-profit mental health facility in Des Moines.
Puffett’s main reason to enter the race? Her frustration with how much money is sent to other countries while the United States has causes that could be better supported at home.
“That’s money that isn’t being spent on education or support of veterans in our country,” Puffett said.
Puffett worked for 30 years at TransAmerica in Cedar Rapids in a finance position.
Puffett said one of the things she is noticing in many towns in the rural portions of District 2 is the number of downtowns that have empty storefronts.
“There is so much more that could be done to invest in these communities to help them,” Puffett said.
Puffett identifies more work needs to be done for children in foster care.
Puffett also identifies the border and immigration issues that need to be addressed, and more support for veterans is needed.
When it comes to the other two candidates in the race, Ashley Hinson and Sarah Corkery, Puffett does find ways that distinguish her from each.
“I have been increasingly discouraged and frustrated with Ashley Hinson’s voting record and her inability to be a true champion for change in Washington,” Puffett said. “Personally, I think Ashley is a very nice person and I have supported her in the past. But she has shown herself to be a follower, not a leader. I don’t think she is tough enough and I haven’t seen her step up to challenge the status quo in Congress.”
Her biggest issue was Hinson’s vote for the $95 billion foreign aid package in April.
With Corkery, their differences are on the abortion issue. Puffett believes the fight for the abortion issue and items like the six-week ban passed in the state of Iowa are a state issue, not a federal issue.
“My goal in getting elected is to get some changes made and go back to spend more of my retirement with my family and grandkids,” Puffett said. “I’m not looking to make this a second career.”
As an independent candidate, Puffett noted she is not beholden to anyone or corporate donors and believes in term limits for anyone in elected office.