The Republican from Hull said his formula for doing that includes cutting property taxes and getting schools to go back to teaching “fundamentals, not DEI or other political agendas.”

He spoke to about 30 people at Olde Boston’s Restaurant & Pub, 809 Central Ave.

In an interview after his speech to the group, Feenstra explained why he is giving up a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives to run for the Republican nomination for governor.

“”I’ve been in Congress now for five and a half years, and it’s just not who I am,” he said. “I don’t want to stay in this swamp bureaucracy where you just keep not getting things done. I just want to get back to Iowa where I can truly make a difference.”

-Messenger photo by Bill Shea
U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra, R-Hull, speaks Wednesday morning at Olde Boston’s Restaurant & Pub during his first campaign appearance in Fort Dodge as a candidate for the Republican nomination for governor.

His proposal for cutting property taxes leans heavily on putting limitations on tax increment financing districts. He said under his plan, what are known as TIF districts could exist, but they would have to have an expiration date.

In a TIF district increased property tax revenue generated there is set aside to be reinvested in the district. Feenstra said that is starving the general funds, the bank accounts that pay for most local government functions, of the communities that have TIF districts.

He said if the increased revenue from TIF districts could flow into the general funds, property taxes could be cut by 25 to 35 percent.

There are three property tax reform bills now being considered in the legislature, and state Senate Republicans are looking at TIF districts as part of their proposal.

To restore what he called “world class education” in Iowa, Feenstra also wants to get rid of bureaucracy in the school districts. He said there are now two administrators for every teacher. And those teachers, he said, are burdened with paperwork.

“Let them get back to teaching,” he said.

Feenstra said keeping young people in Iowa by creating a quality of life that will make the state attractive to them is a priority.

He said he also wants to provide quality, accessible and affordable health care to Iowans. He said to help achieve that he will ask the insurance companies running the state’s Medicaid program to offer coverage to other residents. Creating competition in the insurance market dominated by Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield will help consumers, he said.

Feenstra faces state Rep. Eddie Andrews, Zach Lahn, former state Rep. Brad Sherman and Adam Steen, who was director of the state Department of Administrative Services, in the race for the Republican nomination for governor.

He has been criticized for not participating in debates with the other candidates. On Wednesday morning a member of the audience asked him if forgoing debates was unfair not only to constituents but to himself.

“I’m here,” Feenstra replied. “You can ask me any questions you want. Thank you for being here.”