Primary Election Date: 06/08/2010
General Election Date: 11/02/2010

Who Am I?

Battling organized crime, corruption and giant corporations, Roxanne Conlin has spent her life standing up to special interests for Iowa families who have been hurt by powerful forces. At an early age, Roxanne experienced personally the hardships many families face. She learned to never give up, no matter what the odds.
Growing up in Iowa, Roxanne's family lived paycheck to paycheck, moving from town to town in search of steady work. Her father was an alcoholic, who struggled to hold down a job, while her mother tried to put food on the table for their children. The oldest of six children, Roxanne went to work as a waitress at the age of 14 to help the family make ends meet.
At the age of 16, Roxanne entered Drake University - taking on extra classes while holding down several jobs at the same time. Roxanne worked her way through college, graduating at 19 and Drake Law School graduating at just 21 years old. She chose to dedicate her legal career to speaking for those who cannot speak for themselves.
As an Assistant Attorney General for Iowa, Roxanne fought public corruption and wrote the first law of its kind protecting rape victims. Then, as the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Iowa, she worked hand in hand with law enforcement - leading major drug busts and cracking down on violent crime.
For more than 25 years, Roxanne has owned and managed a small law firm in Iowa. Her firm is dedicated to representing everyday people who do not have a voice. She has never worked for a single corporate interest. Instead, Roxanne has chosen to fight for family farmers squeezed by big banks, police officers wronged by the system, and workers hurt by large companies. A successful small business, Roxanne Conlin & Associates was recently cited by a national magazine as one of the best firms to work for because of its family-friendly practices, welcoming the children of staff into the workplace.
With each new milestone - serving as United States Attorney in Iowa, earning the Democratic nomination for Governor of Iowa, being elected as the first woman President of the American Association of Justice, and selected as one of the first women in the Inner Circle of Advocates - Roxanne leaves behind a trail of shattered glass. Through it all, she still sees the world through the eyes of the courageous, everyday Iowan who refuses to give up in the face of overwhelming odds.
Roxanne lives in Des Moines with her husband of 45 years, James. They are most proud of their four adult children and five grandchildren.

Why Am I Running?

I’m running because I’m fed up with double-digit unemployment, endless wars and bailouts for Wall Street. Chuck Grassley has held office for 51 years and has created partisan gridlock. He tried to block health insurance reform and Iowa deserves better. As a Senator, I will work to create good paying jobs, stimulate our economy and truly leave no child behind.

Hold Me Accountable!

JOBS
While the big banks got bailed out, Iowans got left behind. Simply put – that’s outrageous.  We need a senator who will help small businesses in Iowa, not big corporations that ship jobs overseas. We must fight for relief on Main Street – with tax incentives to encourage businesses to keep and create jobs here, instead of more bailouts for Wall Street.  And preserve the jobs we have, while also creating new ones with a renewable energy revolution — in wind, solar, ethanol, and biomass.

FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY: THE ECONOMY
The federal government should use the same practical, kitchen table budgeting principles Iowa families use every day – live within your means, save for a rainy day, and work towards a balanced budget.  We need an honest budgeting process that ensures government is effective, efficient, and working for the middle-class – instead of serving as an ATM for the big banks and other special interests. We must invest in education, job training, transportation, and health care to create jobs and promote long-term economic growth.  An important element of this process must include closing corporate tax loopholes for companies who ship our jobs overseas.   

EDUCATION
Iowans are no longer competing with Nebraska, Minnesota, or even the East and West coasts, we are competing with the workforce and entrepreneurs in India, China, and Europe. The best way to invest in Iowa’s future is by providing our children with a world-class education.  In order to grow and sustain a vibrant economy we need to ensure every American has access to a quality education – from preschool through college.  The cost of a college education has risen 40% in the last five years.  We must make vocational schools and college more affordable by increasing the value of Pell Grants and lowering the interest rates on student loans. We need to change No Child Left Behind, it is an unfunded mandate and encourages schools to teach to the test and punishes poorly performing schools instead of working to make them better.

My DFA values:

I cannot win without the help of the grassroots. We are working with volunteers, activists and organizers who are hungry for change in Iowa. My campaign is attracting support across our state because for the first time ever, Chuck Grassley has an opponent who can beat him.

My Campaign is People-Powered!

I have not accepted one penny from a PAC or federal lobbyist and in the first five months of my campaign I have out-raised every opponent Senator Grassley has ever faced. To date, 
I have traveled to 93 of Iowa’s 99 counties in 3 months and my campaign has attracted more than 61,000 online supporters.