Jim enjoyed lunch with Governor Branstad and Andy Christenson at Jack Whitver's Memorial Weekend Picnic at the Ankeny Bandshell.
Jim Robidoux is running for the Iowa House of Representatives in the open legislative seat for north Ankeny and northern Polk County in the Republican primary on June 5, 2012. The general election is November 5, 2012. Click here for a map of new House District 37.
“My experience as a planner, manager, teacher, coach, and small business owner will bring value to the Iowa Legislature. Emily and I committed to this community in 1996, and we have benefitted from the hundreds of friends and acquaintances who have enriched our lives. Now it’s time for me to give back to this community as their legislator. I have enjoyed a variety of contact and experience with the constituents in Ankeny and northern Polk County, and they know that I will serve them vigorously in the legislature.”
Robidoux has taught Spanish at Northview Middle School in Ankeny since 1996. He also has taught driver education and English and has coached a variety of sports since he started his teaching career in 1991. Prior to teaching, Robidoux worked at United Parcel Service as an industrial engineer creating and delivering airport operating systems in Cedar Rapids and Des Moines. He started working for UPS in 1984 as a part-time college student, and he was promoted to management upon graduating magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Coe College with degrees in literature and English. If elected, Ankeny Community Schools will allow Robidoux to serve in the spring legislative term after teaching the first semester because this arrangement benefits the students and citizens of Ankeny.
“My experience with logistics at UPS taught me to compile and analyze data to look at several options to find an efficient solution. My training as an English teacher taught me to read deeply and research all aspects of any situation. As a teacher and coach, I am used to hard work and I know that there is always a solution and an opportunity to improve. Over the past two decades, I have worked on a variety of committees at different levels with my teaching colleagues to improve our schools.”
In 2009 during the recession, Robidoux and his wife Emily created and opened Robidoux Country Kennels, a dog-boarding facility, on their farmstead just north of Ankeny near Alleman. They renovated a corn crib built in 1930 into a facility complete with the newest geothermal and insulation technology. They have been active at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church since 1998. They have two adult children and two boys still at home.
“I am listing five priorities for my campaign that I hear from the citizens: honor the constitution; revive education to number one in the nation; restore efficiency to state government; prevent new taxation as a fiscal conservative; and promote new jobs. And along with those five priorities, I promise to refuse PAC money because a legislator should answer to the local citizens, not wealthy special interest groups. Also, I will serve no more than eight years in order to encourage other citizens to run and serve Iowans.”
“Our campaign is gaining momentum with the active support of at-home moms and elected officials, teachers and business owners, high school seniors and senior citizens, farmers and urban office workers, blue-collar Republicans and CEO’s. Check out our website, read our platform, and join our campaign at www.jimrobidoux.org.”
