Roxanne for Iowa

“I was the first runner-up 28 years ago. This time I expect to win,” she said.

During the next few months Conlin plans to reach all 99 counties to listen to voters, share her ideas and strengthen her growing grassroots “Fight to Fix It” tour.

Conlin’s trip on Saturday began with stopping at The Lucky Rooster, 207 E. Second St.

“I’m in this race because I’m fed up with double-digit unemployment and endless wars,” she said. “I’m also tired of bailouts for corporations and nothing for Main Street. I’m fed up with debt and deficits.”

Conlin said Grassley has had his “hand on the trigger” and “put us in debt” when former President George W. Bush was in office.

“Grassley helped put us in $1.41 trillion debt but not much was said until Barack Obama started his term,” she said.

Schools in Ottumwa and Wapello County need more than $1 million in computers and software and that’s “just the beginning of the list,” according to Conlin.

She said her campaign isn’t about her — it’s “about ‘Us’ and about families.”

“I stand up for people who have no choice,” she said. “I wrote the first law against rape and I’ve had many opportunities over a lifetime to help people wronged by the acts of others.”

That stance started in her childhood home. Her father, a brilliant civil engineer, was also an alcoholic and couldn’t keep a job. All too often he took out his frustration on his wife and children and many times Conlin stood up against him.

Conlin didn’t speak of her background until after both her parents died and her siblings agreed she could talk about it.

“It’s our turn. I hope you will join me in fixing the mess we’re in,” she said.

A candidate since Nov. 9, Conlin said she hasn’t taken any money from Political Action Committees. She’s been a candidate since Nov. 9.

Conlin, 65, appreciates the advancements in computer technology. She’s on Facebook and Twitter and believes in texting.

She also has her eye on corporations and how much they can contribute to political candidates.

“Candidates like me don’t have corporate sponsors,” she said.

Conlin is unhappy about “the mess on Wall Street after eight years of deregulation,” changing the rules and “letting greed run wild.”

“There’s been no ‘cop on the beach,’” she said. “We have to follow the rules.”

Conlin would rather see the government spending money on infrastructure and putting people to work on bridges or in renewable energy jobs.

One citizen was concerned about the stimulus money and how too many people think it will “save the world.” He wondered what Conlin would do to stimulate the economy in manufacturing and job layoffs — the “hardest hit areas.”

Conlin said she was concerned about what “rolls downhill.” She doesn’t like laying off teachers and state troopers.

“We can’t lose the people on the ground who protect us,” she said. “A small-business job tax credit could create [numerous] jobs.”

Conlin also wants more energy sources for Iowa and independence from foreign sources.

“This is very important for Iowa and I want to focus on it,” she said. “We don’t need to send money [for energy] to people who don’t like us.”

Conlin criticized Grassley for cutting taxes for the rich.

“If the rich get richer, that will help. It’s the opposite that should be done,” she added.