Liz Mathis on Alzheimer's Legislation and Knocking on 4,000 Doors — Part 1

First Impression: from citizen to politician, how was working in the senate?

I think it went really well. I’ve tried to stay focused on the constituents needs and concerns so I’ve reached out to a lot of people within the district and asked their advice on different issues.

Was there any issue that comes to mind?

Mental health reform. Trying to understand the intricacies of it and how the law would change how we presently do things, but be more effective for the future. Next year we are embarking on a transition to child health care reform. That transition may be a steep slope for some groups and agencies, so we are trying to weigh those concerns right now.

How has campaigning gone so far?

What I’ve learned in the campaign I’ll be able to apply to the legislature. As you canvas you get to meet a lot of people and hear a lot of opinions. Most of those opinions you can put to good work. You can put to the policy that you are writing, you understand the needs of your district. 

I’ve knocked on 4,000 doors. Some candidates find it had to go door knocking… but there is just so much information behind each door.

What issue do you think needs to be addressed in the legislature?

Campaign ethics and spending. The issue is again fairness in campaigning. Everyone needs to be on a level playing field and able to make sure that we are not allowing gross expenditures — that everyone is doing the most ethical thing possible as they are speaking to voters.

What do you say to those that see Iowa's legislature as dysfunctional as the nation's?

I think the ownership falls on the media. 

As I go door to door they say: "I am so displeased with what is going on in Washington."

What they know is what they’ve read and what’s out there. 

There are many days in the state legislature where we’ve passed great legislation but they never made headlines — someone deemed them not interesting enough. 

Do you have an example of such a bill?

We had an Alzheimer’s bill that I am still working on [passed in senate, but house lacked time to vote on it], it’s an effort to make sure that we have a coordinator in the Iowa Department of Public Health that is puling Alzheimer’s research in Iowa universities so that we could combat as it grows. 

We have an elderly population that is growing and Alzheimer’s cases are growing. The economic effects on the state are huge, we are already seeing that.

It just never made the press. It is not quite as interesting 

Assuming you win, what are you looking forward to in the next legislative session? 

[I want to] continue the work we have started on education reform, to concentrate on building businesses, especially small business growth, and focusing on child mental health reform.