OTTUMWA — So what will 2008 look like? Elected officials have already planned out part of their year.

For Iowa’s Second District representative to Congress, it’s all about priorities.

“I’m going to be working in a number of areas,” U.S. Congressman Dave Loebsack (D-IA) told the Courier Tuesday. “I’ll continue on with education. I am hoping we can continue to work on health care and we’ve [especially] got to do more on children’s health.”

Even areas which have seen improvement could still use work.

“We’re certainly putting more resources into veterans’ affairs,” he said, explaining the most recent bill had a record amount of resources. “We’ve got more and more folks coming back from Iraq and Afghanistan; not just from there but other veterans.”

So where’s the money going to come from to do these things?

“We’ve got to bring our troops home. The sooner we can bring our troops home from Iraq, the more resources we will have available for our priorities here at home,” said Loebsack.. “And by the way, those priorities are also the priorities of the American people. They voted me in based largely on those priorities.”

The upcoming election has his attention; it’s one way to make those priorities the priorities of the country.

“We [in Congress] attempted to make these changes but have been blocked by President [George W.] Bush,” he claimed. “I just endorsed Barack Obama... and I’m doing my best to [support] him. I’m convinced he’ll become the next President of the United States if he wins the nomination. But obviously I’ll support whoever wins the Democratic nomination because that’s the direction we need to go in.”

He sees more money coming to Iowa’s Second District, too, as demand increases for alternative energy sources. He will vote in favor of mandating that 15 percent of America’s energy coming from alternative fuel sources.

State Representative Betty DeBoef (R-What Cheer) said the first major issue that comes to mind for the upcoming year is a bill the Iowa House will vote on.

“The one thing I really hope is that we do not pass the bill that will decimate Iowa’s 60-year-old right-to-work law. Iowa being a right-to-work state has served our state well. It provides a business-friendly environment for companies that want to come to Iowa,” she said. “Passing that bill would be a mistake.”

Another factor is hearing from those who would be required to join certain unions.

“A number of teachers I know do not support the agenda of the NEA and the ISCA [teacher unions], and they would be forced to pay dues to these unions even though they don’t agree with their agenda.”

She knows the bill for the change is in motion. But she hopes to see another issue get some attention, too.

“One thing I’d like to challenge the Democratic leadership to do this year: Allow Iowans to vote on a constitutional amendment defining marriage as a union between one man and one woman,” DeBoef said.

In 2007, she explained, a judge ruled against that definition — in 2008, she believes it’s time for a vote to hear what the people think.

In Ottumwa, citizens are going to be seeing more construction.

“I think certainly we’re going to have more sewer separation on the south side,” said Mayor Dale Uehling. “We’re relatively sure we’ll be moving ahead on getting the airport hangar reroofed.”

In fact, there will be discussions of new sewers being put in at the airport, too, as well as discussions with county supervisors about other sewers.

While it may seem like the big news for Ottumwa in '08 is in the sewers, it wasn’t the people of Ottumwa who asked for the work.

“We’ll be keeping an eye on the Legislature, and the funding,” said Uehling. “We’re making changes because of mandates from the [state]. We’re seeing all sorts of outside forces affecting what’s happening in the community. I think that’s too bad, and I’d like to see some relief instead of [more] mandates.”

New requirements at the landfill have already forced the city to raise fees at the facility. Uehling said the city will continue to seek additional sources of funding for the various mandates.

Uehling predicts some full-time help with these and other matters.

“We’re hoping in the first couple months to have a new city administrator on board,” said Uehling, who said the search “is going pretty well, and there should be some things happening in the first couple weeks of January in that respect.”

One issue that hasn’t shown up yet will be apparent once the warm weather comes.

“With the kind of winter we’ve had, we’re going to see some issues with street repair,” he said.

And in case of emergency, he and other city officials are discussing a shelter that can be kept warm regardless of whether there is power in Ottumwa.

As a matter of fact, though he said it’s hard to look a year into the future, he does have a short-term 2008 hope for Ottumwa: “I hope we don’t have any more ice storms,” Uehling said. “Two ice storms is two too many.”

Reporter Mark Newman can be reached at 683-5358 or by e-mail at mgnewman@mchsi.com.