IOWA CITY, Iowa — Iowa’s Democratic Attorney General Tom Miller argued Wednesday that Republican challenger Brenna Findley is driven by ideology and would end the bipartisanship he’s brought to the office.
“When I first ran for attorney general, one of the two most important principles or guidelines to me was the professionalism of the office,” Miller said in a debate with Findley at the University of Iowa law school. “I believe it’s the people’s job and the people’s work. You put politics aside when you walk through the attorney general’s door.”
Findley countered that Miller was showing partisanship when he refused in 2009 to challenge an Iowa Supreme Court ruling that a state law banning same-sex marriage violated the state constitution. She noted that Miller also told county recorders they had to issue same-sex marriage licenses.
“It matters whether your own attorney general will go to court to defend your laws,” Findley said.
Miller defended his actions, saying he simply told local officials they needed to follow the law as interpreted by the state’s highest court.
Findley also said Miller should have challenged federal health care reforms as 20 attorneys general have done, all but one a Republican.
“The federal government has no right to force Iowans to buy a certain kind of health insurance,” Findley said.
She later added, “We’ve got to stop this unconstitutional power grab by the federal government.”
Miller said Findley’s stand on health care demonstrated the choice between the two candidates.
“You go with the attorney general who goes with the law, or you go with the attorney general who goes with the ideology,” Miller said. “It is clearly constitutional.”
Miller, 66, was first elected attorney general in 1978. He has served in that office ever since, except for one four-year term when he was out of office after losing a Democratic gubernatorial primary.
Findley, 34, practiced law for a year and half in California, but she’s spent the bulk of her professional career as chief of staff to Republican U.S. Rep. Steve King, known for his eagerness to speak his mind on his conservative beliefs.
Findley has proven to be a tough challenge for Miller. She’s raised more than $1 million — most of it from the Republican Party of Iowa — and is blanketing the state with television commercials. Miller has raised just under $400,000.
Findley rejected suggestions she would bring her conservative ideology to the office.
“Most of the positions in the office are just like any law firm,” Findley said. “I would run the office professionally.”
Miller said he’s proud of his emphasis on victims’ rights issues and consumer protection laws. He noted his lead role in a national effort to ensure lenders properly handled mortgage foreclosure documents.
Findley repeated earlier criticism she’s made of Miller’s acceptance in 2005 of a $10,000 campaign contribution from Peter DeCoster, whose father owns an egg operation at the center of a national recall prompted by a salmonella outbreak. Miller conceded that he shouldn’t have accepted the donation, and he returned the contribution after Findley raised the issue this summer.
Findley also said she would use the office to spark the state’s economy.
“I would be an advocate for bringing jobs to Iowa,” Findley said.
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