Ralph Holmstrom is running in a contested Republican primary in Iowa Senate District 42 which includes Henry and Lee Counties, and parts of Jefferson and Washington Counties. The winner of the Republican primary on June 7 will challenge incumbent State Senator Rich Taylor (D-Mt. Pleasant).
Holmstrom has been married to his wife Dana for 50 years. The couple have four adult daughters and 10 grandchildren. Holmstrom and his wife were licensed foster parents for 13 years and had 25 children placed in their home, one of whom they consider as part of the family who is now 25-years-old.
Holmstrom graduated from Rhema Bible Training School in Broken Arrow, OK in 1986. He has worked full-time with Shottenkirk Automotive (Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, Ram, Chevrolet, Buick, Cadillac, GMC) in Mt. Pleasant for 25 years. He is a member of Kiwanis International, and has served on their board for the last two years. He also is a board member for Mt. Pleasant United Way. He has been a member of Faith Christian Outreach Church in Mt. Pleasant for the last 29 years.
Holmstrom took the time to complete a survey that Caffeinated Thoughts sent.
Why do you want to serve as a state legislator?
First of all I personally feel the calling it’s something that I sense spiritually. Second my worldview differs greatly with the Democrat incumbent. Third Republicans are so close to gaining possession of the Senate with 24 Republicans and 26 Democrats.
Describe your worldview and what role that would play as a state legislator:
As a beginning to understand my worldview allow me to quote the Preamble of our 1857 Constitution of the State of Iowa that I am in total agreement of that all State Legislatures should consider as their guide in office.
WE THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF IOWA, GRATEFUL TO THE SUPREME BEING FOR THE BLESSINGS HITHERTO ENJOYED, AND FEELING OUR DEPENDENCE ON HIM FOR A CONTINUATION OF THOSE BLESSINGS, DO ORDAIN AND ESTABLISH A FREE AND INDEPENDENT GOVERNMENT, BY THE NAME OF THE STATE OF IOWA,………
Quoting our past Presidents’ worldview who I agree with.
The fundamental basis of this nation’s law was given to Moses on the Mount. The fundamental basis of our Bill of Rights comes from the teachings which we get from Exodus, from Isaiah and St. Paul. I don’t think we can emphasize that enough these days.
– President Harry Truman on February 15, 1950
It (the Bible) is the rock on which our Republic rests.
– President Andrew Jackson
I believe our forefathers State and Federal along with our former two Presidents I quoted have the one and only worldview our State and Country needs to prosper, this is my worldview also I believe my role along with Legislators in the Senate and the House sharing the same worldview working hand and hand together will make a huge difference. Such as.
- Senator Mark Segebart District 2
- Senator Jason Schultz District 4
- Senator Dennis Guth District 22
- Senator Brad Zaun District 6
- Representative Terry Baxter District 35
- Representative Greg Heartsill District 15
- Representative Walt Rogers. District 83
- Representative Sandy Salmon District 3
Your top three issues of concern are?
- Life: I recognize the scientific fact, that life begins at conception and ends with natural death and that must be protected.
- Family: We must protect and defend our Judeo/Christian family structure and Christian liberties.
- Taxes: My goal is that Iowans keep more of what they make.
What is your position on education, in particular Common Core, Next Generation Science Standards, Iowa Core and high stakes testing?
Our public schools operate without competition. I believe competition creates a better product, pick any industry, institution, it is always a better product, service, less expensive, and it’s employees are better off. School choice will improve public schools, such as charter schools, vouchers to empower parents to choose the best schools for their children.
Common Core is a disaster and should be removed, a total failure. Next Generation Science Standards is wrong in regards to pushing man-made climate change and its support of evolution. It teaches children the notion that they are true. Iowa Core is the same as Common Core. High-stakes testing can be misused in public education, especially with young children.
How do you define local control in education?
The concept of local control in education is based on the belief people and institutions closest to the students and knowledge about the school – are best suited to making important decisions about its operation, leadership, academics, teaching and areas of improvement.
When does someone become a person and at what point should they be granted all constitutional protections of a person under the law?
Life and personhood begins at conception, and should be granted protections at conception.
Do you support recently passed legislation in the Iowa House allowing kids under 14 to use handguns with parental supervision:
Yes.
Do you support Constitutional carry and the Second Amendment:
Yes, my Iowa Carry Permit is #831ZZ2885.
Do you support raising any taxes. And, have you supported raising any taxes in the past? If so, which ones?
No. One of my top priorities is that Iowans will be able to keep more of what they make.
What will you do as a state legislator to lessen the tax burden on farmers and small businesses?
Their are four laws of economic freedom:
- The Freedom to Try.
- The Freedom to Buy.
- The Freedom to Sell.
- The Freedom to Fail.
The founding fathers agreed the biggest threat to economic prosperity is the arbitrary intervention of government into economic affairs of private business and the buying public.
For example, by 1905 the U.S. Had become the richest industrial nation in the world period!
With only 5% of the earths land mass, with only 6% of the earths population, the American people were producing 1/2 of everything: cloths, food, houses, transportation, communications, and even luxuries.
What happened? 1913 The Federal Reserve came into being, that’s what happened! Check it out that’s when the National Debt and inflation started to take off. 1971 was another turning point President Richard M. Nixon took the U.S. off the gold standard (temporary) allowing the Federal Reserve to crank up the printing presses non stop now that our money didn’t have to be backed by gold. I pumped gas in High School in 1961 & 62, gasoline was 23.9 cents. If a customer gave me a silver dollar as some did you could buy a little over four gallons of gasoline. Last month I bought a silver dollar to show my grandson one, for $23.00. Gasoline today is $1.99. My grandson could sell his silver dollar for $23.00 and buy over 11 gallons of gasoline today. Point being we should have never went off the gold standard! If I would have kept a silver dollar from High School that one silver dollar could buy over 11 gallons of gasoline to today in 2016!
Yes taxes are a concern for farmers, small businesses and my goal is for all people to keep more of what they make. If our federal government doesn’t get us back to a gold standard with common sense economics maybe then we need a state banking system backed by gold and silver to control inflation that would help the farmer and the small business owner.
Do you support traditional marriage and is there anything you hope to do as a state legislator regarding marriage and how?
Yes I do. I would work with legislators (in particular those I mentioned earlier) asking them to recruit their contacts to work with us to pass an Iowa Constitutional Amendment that defines marriage as one man and one woman.
What is your position on Christians refusing service at same-sex weddings?
Yes they can, it is their Christian right.
What will you do as legislator, if anything, to strengthen religious liberty?
I believe running for the Senate this time and not the House will help when the Republicans gain control of the Senate. I was present when The FAMiLY Leader asked for a meeting with our Governor in his office. He was asked for help concerning the protection of Christian liberties. He said until we Republicans get control of the Senate his hands were tied. His answer was a big part why I am running against the incumbent Democrat Senator now, I also want Republican control of the Senate!
Do you support allowing Syrian refugees into Iowa?
Not in my state!
What type of pro-life bills would you support?
Personhood, I want total change. We must stop murdering our babies now!
Should taxpayer money pay for Planned Parenthood?
No.
In what circumstances would you go against the leadership of your own caucus if elected?
There is a higher law the Supreme Being, as described in the Preamble to Iowa Constitution. If elected I will go against the leadership of my own caucus if I was asked to oppose God’s higher law.
