Candidate Profiles

1. Education: Our schools need to focus on helping students learn critical thinking and practical life skills. Right now, the state has too much control over what is taught. Parents deserve more say in their children's education, as they know their kids best. I will fight for school choice and ensure taxpayer dollars follow the student, whether they attend public, private, or parents choose to home school. Giving parents and local communities more control will ensure education reflects the values and needs of each family. 2. Government Overreach: Iowans are facing too many restrictions that limit personal freedoms. From small business regulations to property rights, the government’s reach extends too far into our daily lives. I believe that the role of government should be limited, allowing people to make their own decisions. I will work to cut back on unnecessary regulations and protect individual liberties, ensuring that Iowans have the freedom to live their lives without government interference. 3. The Economy: Economic challenges are hitting Iowans hard, with the cost of living rising and job opportunities shrinking. To strengthen our economy, I believe we need to reduce taxes and remove barriers to entrepreneurship. Lowering the tax burden will allow people to keep more of their income, and less government interference will encourage businesses to grow, creating more jobs. My focus will be on creating a business-friendly environment that leads to economic growth for everyone. In addition to these issues, I am deeply committed to advocating for parental rights. Having personally experienced the devastation of having my children wrongfully taken by the state, I know firsthand how important it is for parents to have control over their family's future. I will fight to protect parents’ rights and ensure no family endures the same injustice.

Yes, there are areas where I believe funding should be increased, especially when it comes to supporting core services that directly benefit Iowans without expanding unnecessary government programs. 1. Education Reform and School Choice: While I believe in reducing wasteful spending in the education system, more funding should go directly to supporting school choice initiatives. Every family should have the ability to choose the best educational path for their child, whether it's public school, private school, or homeschooling. By increasing funding for education reform, we can ensure that all students have equal access to the resources they need, regardless of their family's financial situation. 2. Mental Health Services: Mental health care is a critical issue in Iowa. Many families struggle to get the help they need due to a lack of resources. I believe that increasing funding for mental health services will improve access to care, reduce stigma, and provide better support for those in need. By prioritizing mental health, we can reduce the strain on emergency services and law enforcement, ultimately creating a healthier, safer community for everyone. 3. Infrastructure and Transportation: Iowa’s infrastructure needs serious attention. Our roads, bridges, and public transportation systems are aging and, in some areas, unsafe. Increased funding is necessary to ensure that our infrastructure is maintained and improved. This investment is crucial for both safety and economic growth, as better infrastructure will attract businesses and make it easier for Iowans to travel, work, and do business. At the same time, I believe we need to make sure that increased funding in these areas comes from reallocating money from bloated or unnecessary programs, not through higher taxes. We can make our state government more efficient while still addressing these critical needs.

I don’t believe Iowa should ban the use of hand-held mobile devices while driving. While safety is important, I think the solution lies in educating drivers about responsible behavior rather than imposing more government regulations. First, a ban would be difficult to enforce consistently and might lead to unintended consequences. People could still try to use their phones in less visible ways, which might increase distractions instead of reducing them. It's better to focus on public safety campaigns that encourage drivers to make smarter choices and recognize the dangers of distracted driving. Second, a blanket ban infringes on personal freedom. Iowans should be trusted to use their own judgment when driving, whether it’s using a GPS or answering a quick call. We don’t need more government telling us how to act—responsibility starts with the individual. Instead of banning devices, I support stricter penalties for drivers who cause accidents while distracted, putting the focus on the consequences of reckless behavior. This way, we can improve road safety without over-regulating.

Having worked as a nurse in nursing homes and hospice, I understand the challenges faced by healthcare workers and residents. One of the biggest issues is high patient-to-staff ratios, often caused by Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement rate cuts. When nursing homes receive less funding, they struggle to hire enough staff, leading to burnout among caregivers and a decline in the quality of care. To address this, the legislature should reallocate funds to ensure facilities can afford to hire and retain enough staff to provide quality care. By improving staffing levels, we can reduce worker burnout and improve outcomes for residents. Fair pay for healthcare workers is also essential. Nurses and caregivers are often underpaid, despite their demanding jobs. Medicare and Medicaid cuts further strain the ability to offer competitive wages. The legislature should support wage incentives or tax relief to ensure workers are compensated fairly. This will help attract and retain skilled professionals, ensuring residents receive the high-quality care they deserve. Additionally, we must prioritize resident safety by improving oversight without overregulating the system. Practical reforms like these will strengthen nursing home care while addressing the root causes of understaffing.

Absolutely, the state really needs to step up and provide more funding for cancer research, screenings, and prevention programs. With Iowa having the second-highest cancer rate in the country, it’s more important than ever. One thing we should consider is the possible connection between pesticide use in our big agricultural sector and the high cancer rates here. By boosting funding for research, we can dig into these environmental factors, like pesticide exposure, to see how they might be linked to cancer while also working on prevention and support strategies. It's crucial to support cancer screenings and prevention programs, especially in rural areas where healthcare access can be tough. Early detection can save lives and cut down on treatment costs. Plus, investing in research can lead to better treatments and a clearer understanding of cancer risks. By tackling both prevention and environmental issues like pesticide use, we can help lower cancer rates and improve the health of Iowans.

To make Iowa's water quality better, I would support efforts that encourage responsible farming practices, cut down on industrial pollution, and give local communities the tools they need to tackle water issues. One major problem we face is runoff from farms, which brings too many nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus into our rivers and streams. I think we should offer incentives to farmers to adopt conservation methods, like cover cropping and buffer zones, and to use fewer chemicals. This way, we can protect our water sources without piling on unnecessary regulations. Besides tackling farm runoff, we definitely need stricter rules for industrial pollution to make sure companies aren’t contaminating Iowa’s waterways. Holding polluters accountable while helping them switch to cleaner technologies can strike a good balance between economic growth and protecting the environment. This approach works because it mixes incentives with accountability. By empowering local communities to take charge of their water quality and encouraging farmers to act voluntarily, we can achieve cleaner water without heavy-handed government mandates. It’s a win-win for both the environment and the economy!

Improving mental health services starts with making care easier to access. Expanding telehealth means people in rural areas can get therapy without long wait times or having to travel far. We also need to reduce barriers for out-of-state mental health professionals to practice in Iowa, addressing our shortage of providers. Expanding crisis prevention services, like mobile crisis units, will help catch issues early before they escalate. Collaboration is key. Multidisciplinary teams—bringing together law enforcement, healthcare workers, social workers, schools, and even churches—can offer more complete care. For example, law enforcement can work with social workers to direct those in crisis to treatment rather than jail. This way, mental health is treated from multiple angles, not just one. Using a human systems theory approach is essential because mental health doesn’t happen in isolation. It’s connected to many factors like family, community, and finances. Addressing these interconnected parts, especially poverty, can ease the stress that often worsens mental health problems. That’s why anti-poverty efforts, like more job opportunities and affordable housing, are so important. To know if these efforts are working, we can track things like shorter wait times, patient satisfaction, and better outcomes, like fewer hospitalizations and crises. We’d also check how well these collaborative teams and systems approaches are improving mental health in the community. The plan for improved mental health care in Iowa needs to focus on expanding access, encouraging collaboration across fields, addressing poverty, and looking at the bigger picture of what affects mental health. The goal is faster care, better results, and a more supportive environment for everyone.

When it comes to access to abortion, contraception, and in vitro fertilization, the legislature should prioritize personal freedom and privacy. People should have the right to make their own decisions about their reproductive health without unnecessary government interference. First, regarding abortion, I believe the government should not impose restrictions that limit a person’s ability to make deeply personal decisions. Reproductive health decisions are best made by individuals, in consultation with their doctors, not by politicians. Contraception should be easily accessible for everyone. Expanding access to affordable contraception helps individuals prevent unwanted pregnancies and allows them to take control of their reproductive health. No one should face barriers to obtaining birth control because of financial or bureaucratic hurdles. For in vitro fertilization (IVF), the legislature should ensure that those seeking to start families through this process are supported. Couples experiencing infertility should have access to IVF without unnecessary legal barriers. The focus should be on supporting families, not limiting their options. Overall, the role of the legislature should be to protect individual rights and ensure that reproductive health care is available, safe, and affordable. Personal health decisions should remain in the hands of individuals, with as few government barriers as possible.

I do not support a bill that would define life as beginning at conception. While I respect that people have different beliefs about when life begins, such a law would impose one specific viewpoint on everyone, limiting personal freedoms. Defining life at conception could lead to significant legal and medical restrictions, impacting not only abortion access but also contraception, in vitro fertilization, and even miscarriage care. Each person’s situation is unique, and decisions about pregnancy and reproductive health are deeply personal. These decisions should be made by individuals in consultation with their doctors, not mandated by the government. A law that defines life at conception would take away people’s ability to make choices based on their own values and circumstances, and I believe that’s a step too far. In short, I don’t believe the government should impose such a restrictive definition, as it would limit personal freedoms and complicate access to essential reproductive health care.

To make public education better in Iowa, I’d really focus on empowering local communities, parents, and teachers. Schools should have the freedom to meet their students’ needs without getting bogged down by unnecessary regulations. I’d push for policies that let teachers be more creative in the classroom and give schools more control over their resources and funding. At the same time, it’s super important to support our teachers. That means better pay and professional development opportunities to attract and keep great educators. Investing in teachers is one of the best ways to enhance education overall. When it comes to the Iowa Legislature’s role in setting curriculum standards, I think it should be pretty limited. The state can set some broad, foundational standards to ensure students learn essential skills like reading, math, and critical thinking. But the specifics of what’s taught should really be left to local school districts. Local educators and parents know best what their students need, so they should have the flexibility to adjust the curriculum as necessary. The legislature’s role should be more about guidance than control. Local schools should be able to include subjects that reflect their community’s values and needs while still preparing students for the future. A one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t really work for education, and I believe communities should have a bigger say in how and what their kids learn.

To make Iowa a more appealing place for investment and growth, I’d focus on creating a business-friendly atmosphere, supporting innovation, and cutting unnecessary regulations. First off, we need to simplify the tax code and lower taxes for small businesses and entrepreneurs. Lower taxes help businesses get started, grow, and hire more employees. By easing the financial load on local businesses, we can encourage more investment in our state. We should also streamline the regulatory process to cut down on red tape that slows things down. This way, Iowa becomes a much more attractive spot for starting and expanding businesses. Next, we should invest in infrastructure—think high-speed internet, transportation, and utilities—especially in rural areas. A modern, well-connected state draws in both businesses and workers. Reliable internet is essential in today’s digital world, and upgrading our infrastructure can help more companies set up shop in Iowa. I’d also support workforce development by making sure our education system aligns with what modern businesses need. This means promoting vocational training, apprenticeships, and STEM programs to get our workforce ready for high-demand jobs in technology, manufacturing, and renewable energy. A skilled workforce is a huge plus for companies looking to invest and grow. Finally, Iowa’s quality of life is a major selling point. We need to keep our communities safe, clean, and affordable to attract both businesses and the employees they need. Promoting Iowa as a great place to live and raise a family is crucial for drawing in investment.