The latest local news, weather and high school sports from the Heartland

FAIRFIELD, IOWA -- Election Day is officially one week away and there are two issues that are of major concern to southeast Iowans.

KTVO spoke to candidates for Iowa House District 82, Incumbent Democrat Curt Hanson and Republican James Johnson, and asked them these questions…

What is the biggest problem facing the state of Iowa right now and specifically what legislation would you support to address that issue?

“Well I think the biggest issues facing Iowans would be the modernization of our education system and I think we've got to get all players on board with that. We have to have parents, teachers, school board members, educational members from higher ed., everybody on board to meet the competition the foreign countries are thrusting upon us. We can't stay where we are now, we have to advance,” said Hanson.

“I believe the biggest challenge that we're facing right now is lack of jobs. It's a great state, a great place to live but there's just a really tough to make a living and what we need to do to bring jobs to Iowa, is to lower taxes, get rid or some irregulations that have forced some of our businesses out of business -- make it so they can be competitive with other nations and other countries. We hear a lot of talk about Iowa First. Again I believe if we lower the tax rates and get rid of some irregulations, they could put in competitive bids. Jobs are important,” said Johnson.

Do you support the ongoing effort to remove Iowa Supreme Court Justices who votes in favor of gay marriage, why or why not?

“I’m not in favor of politicizing the Iowa Court System. I think Iowa has had a very independent court, has the constitution set up so I’m not in favor of politicizing the Iowa Court System. I think we've got a very good system that's served us well for a number of years. It's respected by the rest of the nation,” said Hanson.

“Yes, I do. I support that. My concern is that we had a court that overstepped their constitutional boundary. Courts don't make laws, courts issue opinions based on original intent of the law and I see them clearly overstepping their boundaries and if it's same-sex marriage’s time, I’m curious what will be next,” said Johnson.

Hanson and Johnson will face-off on November 6.