Ames Today

Republican Sen. Tom Green has held the 44th Senate District seat for four years but has decided to step down, and this year, two candidates are running for the Republican nomination. 

Tim Goodwin and Matt Rinker are running for the seat and voters will decide which candidate to select for the 44th District on the June 2 ballot, according to the Ames Tribune. 

Goodwin is a former school administrator and coach, who received a bachelor's and master's degree from Western Illinois University. Rinker is a city councilman in Burlington, who is a Navy veteran and also received a bachelor's degree from Western Illinois University. 

Both candidates have similar stances on mental health in Iowa, agreeing that it is a pressing issue and that the next step is the implement reliable funding. The state recently enacted legislation to help adulthood and childhood mental health, but the programs aren't funded. Goodwin and Rinker said it would be a priority to have these programs funded, according to the Ames Tribune. 

While both agree on mental health, they have different views on handling the COVID-19 pandemic and the loss in revenue brought with it. 

Goodwin told the Ames Tribune that taxpayer budget should be dealt with in a conservative way to reduce necessary costs as a way to take away any unnecessary burdens from Iowa residents. 

Rinker also told the Ames Tribune that it's important to cut away any wasteful financial decisions, but he said the state can also use the $289 million in surplus funds to help make it through the pandemic.