Ames state representatives endorse Hubbell for governor

Oct. 19--State Reps. Beth Wessel-Kroeschell and Lisa Heddens both announced their endorsement of Fred Hubbell for Iowa's gubernatorial race Wednesday.

Wessel-Kroeschell and Heddens' districts encompass the entire city limits of Ames and parts of unincorporated Story County to the south and east to Nevada's city limits.

Heddens said she chose Hubbell because of his previous support for mental health services in the state, his previous business background and his expressed support for education as part of the state's workforce development efforts.

She said she's met several times with Hubbell and figured endorsing him months before next summer's primary election would be a good way to encourage support for his campaign among a packed field of Democrats running for governor.

"At this point, all of my particular questions have been answered by this candidate, so it just seems like the right time to endorse him and for others, since there is a larger field of candidates, to maybe give him a second look," she said.

Wessel-Kroeschell said she was initially considering fellow state representative Todd Pritchard before he dropped out of the race in August. She cited Hubbell's private sector experience and his stances on environmental and healthcare issues in the state, and felt he made the best impression out of the other candidates.

"I was kind of waiting for something to inspire me a little beyond the some of the common rhetoric, and Fred did that," she said.

Hubbell, 66, is a former CEO of Equitable Life Insurance Company in Des Moines. He previously served as interim director of what is now the Iowa Economic Development Authority and chaired the now-defunct Iowa Power Fund.

He is among seven Democrats seeking their party's gubernatorial nomination. Incumbent Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds is facing a primary challenge from two others within her own party.

State Sen. Herman Quirmbach, D-Ames, endorsed Democratic State Sen. Nate Boulton, who represents northeast Des Moines and Pleasant Hill, in May.

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