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OTTUMWA, IOWA -- A southeast Iowa teacher wants to continue his family’s tradition of serving the community through public office.

Joe Judge, a government teacher at Albia High School, and the son of former Lt. Governor Patty Judge, announced last year that he would run for state representative in House District 80.

The district covers Appanoose and Monroe Counties, as well as portions of Wapello and Mahaska Counties.

Judge shared with KTVO on Wednesday one of the reasons he is running for public office.

“I think that right now our political climate is so divisive and corrosive. And as a government teacher, I can see that turns off my students and I know it turns off the electorate. And for a democracy to be strong and strive, we need voices that can rise above that political discourse and build consensus, reach across the aisle and get things done,” said Judge.

One of the biggest issues debated in Des Moines this past session focused on Governor Branstad’s education reform package. Being that Judge is a teacher, KTVO wanted to know his thoughts about the package.

“I think education reform really needs to build upon the success we have had. While there are some good aspects of the reform, we really need to keep laser focus on those things that are working. And sometimes those people with the grand ideas, they forget about focusing on the foundation of what is good,” said Judge.

If elected, Judge says that he also wants to focus on bringing more resources to southern Iowa. Judge believes that this portion of the state is not being represented fairly in Des Moines, and he says that he will focus on that issue if he takes office.

For more information on Joe Judge, click here.