March 19, 2024

Diehl promotes public education, water in bid for state representative

Osceola Mayor Fred Diehl is running for Iowa State Representative, House District 27, in this November’s election.

Diehl, a Democrat, will face Republican incumbent Joel Fry of Osceola.

“I’d like to see southern Iowa grow the same way we’ve grown,” Diehl said.

Diehl has completed 19 years as the mayor of Osceola and is a retired local business owner.

In a press release, Diehl states that as an owner of a full line independent insurance agency in Osceola for 25 years, and now, being part time in the business with Medicare supplements and life and health lines, he has kept up with current and financial small town business issues.

Priorities

Diehl said his priorities would be and public education, especially the promotion of area and community colleges.

“The secret to bringing up the middle class is through our area colleges,” Diehl said.

Another main priority would be the ongoing Squaw Creek Watershed reservoir project, which promotes bringing an adequate water supply to Clarke County and Southern Iowa Rural Water Association (SIRWA).

“Southern Iowa needs water,” Diehl said.

Background

Diehl grew up in rural Clarke County and graduated from Osceola High School.

He graduated from Iowa State University with a major in agricultural education and minor in communications — radio and TV. Diehl still holds a teaching license and substitute teaches occasionally in local school districts.

After college, Diehl attained the rank of first lieutenant in the United States Army Reserve. His employment took him away from southern Iowa for 17 years. He lived in Illinois, Wisconsin and eastern Iowa.

In 1971, Diehl and his wife Ann moved back to Osceola to raise their four children. Diehl’s wife is a family nurse practitioner and has been active in health care and many community activities.

Lions Club and Rotary Club are the service organizations Diehl belongs to. He received the Osceola Citizen of the Year award in 2000. Most recently, Diehl served on the Vision Iowa Board, and was appointed by the governor for two, three-year terms.

Supporting

“I will support more and improved public education, not only in the elementary and high schools, but also in our community colleges,” Diehl said. “Over the years, I have listened to small manufacturers tell me of their need for more skilled workers. The community colleges help fill that gap, which in turn will provide more living-wage jobs and help the middle class. I have worked with large agricultural companies, small-town businesses, large insurance companies and (we) are all after the same thing — more educated and skilled workers.”