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

OTTUMWA, IOWA -- Mark Chelgren, an Ottumwa small business owner, officially filed his nomination petitions and statement of candidacy with the Iowa Secretary of State Wednesday to run for the Iowa Senate. Chelgren, an independent minded Republican, is running for Senate District 47, which includes the city of Ottumwa in Wapello County and all of Davis, Appanoose and Wayne Counties.

The owner of Frog Legs Inc., a manufacturing business in Ottumwa that produces wheelchair parts used around the world, Chelgren says his background as an entrepreneur and business leader provides him with knowledge and experience necessary to help bring about job creation in Iowa. Chelgren says he will focus his campaign on creating and bringing back jobs to southern Iowa, which has one of the highest levels of unemployment in the state.

“As an entrepreneur and creator of a manufacturing business, I have experience in business development, job creation and fiscal management,” said Chelgren. “I am running because I want to create jobs and focus on finding new ways for entrepreneurs like me to create private sector jobs so we can grow our state again. We must stop punishing the business people and investors for believing in the great state of Iowa,” he continued.

Besides focusing on job creation, Chelgren says he wants to get Iowa’s budget back in line with revenues after three years of overspending created a one billion dollar deficit, protect taxpayers from the continued increases in taxes and fees and return to a strict adherence to the Iowa Constitution. Chelgren made it clear that his optimistic message and record of results will be a stark contrast to record of Senator Keith Kreiman. Under Kreiman’s watch, Iowa’s spending grew out of control, property taxes keep going higher and he has voted for legislation that adds additional and significant barriers to job creation.

“Like most Iowans, I am upset with the unsustainable levels of spending that has lead to record deficits, the continued increases in taxes and the budgets that are produced in Des Moines that do not reflect the true priorities of Iowans,” said Chelgren. “As your senator, I will only vote for responsible and fiscally sustainable budgets that reflects your priorities and keeps our taxes low.”

Chelgren and his wife Janet have two children. Besides operating his manufacturing business, he is an active member of the community having served as President of the Kiwanis, a member of the Masons, Ottumwa Rotary, Chamber of Commerce and Iowa Economic Development Committee.

“I feel it is my duty as a father, husband and Iowan to do everything in my power to bring about fiscal responsibility, help create jobs, stand up for the Constitution and protect the taxpayer,” said Chelgren. “I look forward to working hard to bring my optimistic message and grassroots campaign to every voter in the district and we all work together to bring about a new direction for Iowa and a brighter future for our children and grandchildren.”