Part of a series on local statehouse races

WATERLOO -- Democratic challenger Kerry Burt sees the race for House District 21 as a referendum on leadership and standing up for the middle class.

Rep. Tami Wiencek, R-Waterloo, says she will continue to be an independent voice in the Iowa Legislature that protects taxpayer dollars while improving education.

The two are locked in a close money race in the final days before election.

Burt has raised more than $37,000 in the most recent reporting period, the vast majority coming from unions.

Wiencek, meanwhile, has taken in more than $35,000 from a wider variety of sources. She has about $15,000 more to spend thanks to previous fundraising.

Burt says he decided to run because he sees increased frustration in young people whose middle class dreams have stalled.

"People 10 years out of college, they went through school, created high debt, they're in a job that's nowhere near what they thought they were supposed to be getting paid, and they're frustrated. They're looking around trying to figure out what's going on," he says.

Sticking up for working people is why Burt says he supports legislatopm dubbed "fair share," which would let unions negotiate for the right to charge a fee for representing non-union workers.

He says he's convinced people who oppose the issue don't fully understand it.

"I think most people are willing to pay for what they get. If somebody did something for you and you agreed for them to do it, so you pay them for it," he says.

Wiencek said the fair share issue, also called "right to work," comes down to people's right to choose in the work place.

"It's really simple for me. I believe everyone should have the right to choose whether they want to join a union or not," she says.

Despite her stance on the issue, Wiencek says she maintains a good relationship with many union members because she takes the time to listen to all viewpoints before making a decision.

The former television journalist says her deliberative style has led her to buck her party in voting to raise the minimum wage, and for civil rights for gays and lesbians.

She also voted for expanding early childhood education, an issue she says Republicans have not made central to their platform.

Wiencek credits her approach for not getting caught up in the Democratic sweep of 2006, when she unseated veteran Democrat State Rep. Don Shoultz. It's something she think she can void this year if Democrats again make major gains in local and national races.

"People in Iowa, especially, they split their ticket a lot," she said. "I believe Iowans are independent minded, and I'm independent minded, so I think that's a good fit for my district."

Wiencek says she has done her best to protect people's money by voting against the most recent state budget.

A report from the state auditor this summer estimated the state's spending exceeds revenues by $370 million.

"I voted for people's pocketbooks because I don't the spending that has happened in Des Moines the past two years is sustainable," she says.

Burt says his opponent could have done more stand up for projects important to the district and region, especially Cedar Valley TechWorks, a bio-based new ag product develoment and exhiblition center on former portions of John Deere's Westfield Avenuye site.

Proponents hope the bio-based industrial and ag product development center will spark major economic development in the area.

The project is moving forward and was supported by Wiencek, but Burt says she could have done much more to promote an initiative that could create so many green-collar jobs in the area.

Project organizers praised, in particular, Democratic senators Jeff Danielson and Bill Dotzler, both of Waterloo, for changing state law to help secure a $2.5 million grant for the project.

"Even though funding was made, she left it alone, and that's in our district, and our district needs to be represented for things that are in our district," he said. "Nothing against anybody personally, I just think it takes a stronger personality to lead in Des Moines."

Contact Jens Manuel Krogstad at (319) 291-1580 or jens.krogstad@wcfcourier.com.