OTTUMWA —
Nothing could pull him away from seeing the president of the United States at the Iowa State Fairgrounds. Nothing, that is, but a call on his cell phone from the first lady.
“I’ve been doing some [political] organizing in Waterloo as a volunteer,” said Zach Simonson, 22, an Ottumwan currently attending the University of Northern Iowa.
When Barack Obama arrived in Iowa Thursday, Simonson knew he wanted another chance to see the president — the student had already seen him speak in Ottumwa. But he’d also been chosen as one of three young people across the country to participate in a conference call with Michelle Obama.
“I was at the state fairgrounds to see the president, and I ducked out to take the ... call from the first lady,” Simonson said. “I was able to talk to her about jobs.”
“Part of the reason why Zach was selected is because he believes that all people should be able to ... get involved in causes that matter to them,” said Liz Purchia, a campaign press secretary in Iowa.
Simonson, a 2008 Ottumwa High School graduate studying political communication at UNI, said he appreciated Mrs. Obama’s candor in answering his questions about people being out of work.
It’s not uncommon for political speakers to start touting their candidate’s accomplishments, Simonson said. And he knew there have been improvements over the past few years.
“It was really meaningful to me that she said we had a long way to go.”
That’s even with what he called 26-straight months of job creation; the nation still isn’t where it needs to be, Simonson said.
“The [discussion] should not be about accomplishments since 2008. It needs to be about how we’re going to get better starting [with] 2012.”
He told Michelle Obama that college graduates in Iowa are still unemployed or under-employed at higher rates than they should be. In fact just this week, a media report stated that nationally, college graduates are unemployed at a higher rate than those without four-year degrees.
He said the president seems aware of the value of skilled jobs in advanced manufacturing. And that means learning a trade or a skill.
Because while Simonson didn’t choose to go to a community college, while he attends UNI, he has watched his friends attend Indian Hills Community College — and graduate.
“They’ve had employers competing to give them jobs.”
In fact, it was at IHCC that the president last stopped in Ottumwa.
“I was really glad she talked about making a bigger investment in community colleges,” he said. “I felt a good connection to that because that was something the president spoke about when he was here [in Ottumwa].”
So did the first lady ask him anything? No. But she did ask something of America’s young people.
“There was a record [voter] turnout among youth in 2008. She said we’ll need to do that again in order to win in 2012.”
Local News
Related Photos
-
Zach Simonson Mark Newman/The Courier
May 26, 2012
Ottumwan chats with first lady
Simonson volunteers, stays involved in politics
- Local News
-
-
Ottumwan bound for Oklahoma
OTTUMWA — “We do this because we love it; we love helping people through those tough times.” That’s the message from Brandon Holstrom who will travel to Moore, Okla. today to help those impacted by the tornado that has devastated that community. Hols
- Celebrating Eldon ELDON -- The annual festival celebrating the town of less than 1,000 ties the community's bonds tighter through a weekend of music, food, performances and tournaments. American Gothic Days will take over Eldon again June 7-9. "It's the town festival,
- Lawmakers: We work together for change DES MOINES — State representatives sounded happy Thursday after their session finally ended. But they weren't just happy to be going home. “I think it was a very successful session, where we kept the budget to a sustainable level,” said Larry Sheets,
- Memorial Day weekend typically calm for parks, law enforcement OTTUMWA — With summer unofficially kicking off this weekend, area officials ask those celebrating the holiday to have fun but stay safe. Parks Director Gene Rathje said while camping in Ottumwa Park began on April 1, this weekend is the site's first
- EBF students engage in community service EDDYVILLE - The Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont School Board learned this week about community service work students recently completed throughout the area. "The students did a great job. They were engaged in some service learning opportunities in Fremo
- Iowa school reform to be optional DES MOINES -- State officials hope educators, students and parents soon start seeing changes in the classroom. But only if they want to. Parts of Gov. Terry Branstad's "blueprint for education" have been approved. But like most major issues during th
-
Missing teen located, returned home
SIGOURNEY — The 13-year-old girl reported missing from Hedrick on Monday has been found. The teenager, Hunter Kopp, was located at a Sigourney residence around 10 p.m. Wednesday, said Keokuk County Sheriff Deputy Jeff Runnells. "The officers last nig
-
Ottumwa man charged with indecent exposure
OTTUMWA -- A man has been charged with indecent exposure after passers-by noticed a teenage girl in distress Monday afternoon. Angelo Nick Orfanos, 28, of Ottumwa, was charged with indecent exposure Wednesday as a result of an Ottumwa Police Departme
-
Stabbing trial pushed back
OTTUMWA -- The trial of an Ottumwa man accused of stabbing another man to death has been pushed back. Twenty-year-old Brandon Seim was charged in November 2011, when he was 18, with the stabbing death of Andy Madren, 34. When officers arrived at the
- Clarification ELDON -- It looked even worse in the light of day. A Wapello County farm damaged by high winds in the storm this week, neighbors had first believed, suffered some damage. But the situation is even worse, Eldon's mayor informed the Courier, saying tha
- More Local News Headlines
-
Ottumwan bound for Oklahoma
