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Friday, August 24, 2007 Brownback to kick-off UNI's presidential candidate forums CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- U.S. Sen. Sam Brownback will share his views on education at the first in a series of University of Northern Iowa presidential-candidate forums in partnership with ED in '08 (Strong American Schools), the Iowa Business Council and Lee Enterprises newspapers. The forum will be held from 4 to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 28 at UNI's Gallagher-Bluedorn Performing Arts Center.
The series is titled "Back to School: Addressing the Challenges and Opportunities in American Education." The forums will focus on policy initiatives related to education and broader implications for global competitiveness.
The forum will include a 10-minute statement on Brownback's education policy and issues, followed by a series of education-related questions from panelists representing the education and business communities, followed by audience questions and closing remarks from Brownback. The moderator will be Dr. Nancy L. Green, vice president-circulation, Lee Enterprises and publisher of The Courier.
Brownback was elected to the House of Representatives in 1994 and to the U.S. Senate in 1996. He serves on the Appropriations, Judiciary, and Joint Economic Committees. He is the ranking member on the Joint Economic Committee, the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Subcommittee, as well as the subcommittee responsible for the Constitution.
Education has long been a prized value of Iowans. UNI, with its 131-year history of outstanding teacher-education programs, will give Iowans throughout the state an opportunity to attend these educational forums.
"A quality education for every child is needed to ensure a bright future for the state and for the nation," said Benjamin Allen, UNI president. "We're pleased to host presidential candidates and to help elevate education issues facing America in an ever-increasing competitive global economy."
Lee's Iowa daily newspapers are the Quad-City Times in Davenport, The Courier in Waterloo/Cedar Falls, the Globe Gazette in Mason City, the Sioux City Journal and the Muscatine Journal. Lee Enterprises is a premier publisher of local news, information and advertising in primarily midsize markets, with 56 daily newspapers and online sites in 23 states. Lee is based in Davenport.
ED in '08 (SAS), a project of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, is a nonpartisan campaign supported by The Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation promoting sound education policies for all Americans. SAS doesn't support or oppose any candidate for public office and doesn't take positions on legislation. Its three campaign priorities are 1) Agreeing on American education standards; 2) Providing effective teachers in every classroom; and 3) Giving students more time and support for learning.
The Iowa Business Council is a non-profit, non-partisan, self-funded organization whose 24 members include the top executives of 20 of the largest companies in the state, the three public university presidents, and the CEO of Iowa's largest banking association. As a group, they employ more than 180,000 people throughout Iowa. Formed in 1985, the purpose of the Council is to engage the personal commitment of these executives in active leadership roles on major initiatives that offer opportunities to enhance Iowa's economic vitality.
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