It would be hard to find a political candidate in Iowa with a more
difficult race than James Van Bruggen. To say he's got an uphill
struggle to unseat incumbent Rep. Dwayne Alons in Iowa House District
4 would be an understatement. What's Van Bruggen's problem? He's a
25-year-old legislative assistant from George, facing a farmer and
former Air Force pilot who has been running unopposed for a decade in
the northwestern part of the state that has been called the "Bible
Belt of Iowa." At first glance, many would think Alons might be just
the kind of a candidate the state Democratic Party might put resources
into unseating. During his 10 years in office, he has been very
successful at grabbing headlines that are not always flattering.

Labels: state House