Candidate Profiles

Three of the most important issues the state is facing are economic issues, education and healthcare issues. Businesses continue to struggle to recruit and retain staff. As a small business owner myself, it is especially important to me to protect our local small businesses who do not always have the same opportunities as larger companies. Businesses need to have the means to provide a good wage and benefits package so that families can afford everyday expenses like food, housing and caring for their children. I will advocate for education by focusing on children from cradle to career. This includes making sure every family has access to an affordable quality early childhood setting for their child and that every Iowa child has a world-class K-12 education and is set up for success after graduation whether they go straight into the workforce, continue onto higher ed or start a trade program. All Iowans also need access to affordable and accessible healthcare. When individuals can take care of their health needs, whether that be physical, mental or emotional health, they can be more successful at work and in life. I will address these issues by continuing to work across the aisle and collaborating with colleagues to create legislative ideas to address these issues and keep the wellbeing of Iowans in the forefront of our decision making.

While I want to be a good steward of tax dollars, there are some areas that need more of an investment. Childcare and education is the first area I think of. Families are spending equivalents of college tuition to pay for childcare and that is for those that can actually find a slot for their child. There are still many families without care. We must continue to address childcare deserts and that will take more funding. When it comes to public education, class sizes are still too large, there are staff shortages in many areas, particularly support staff like bus drivers and paraeducators who need a larger pay increase. For those that want to continue onto college, tuition costs continue to rise and if we want students staying here in Iowa both during college and after they graduate, we must address tuition to make Iowa an attractive place to live and stay. Healthcare is also an area that needs more funding, adult mental health is underfunded, the children’s mental health system that was created awhile back was not fully funded and Iowans with disabilities are still sitting on waiver lists. We must do better.

I do not believe using a hand-held mobile device while driving is safe and more drivers need to take personal responsibility while driving, however without seeing the exact legislation and how it may be written I cannot say if I would in favor of an outright ban.

This is a personal issue for so many. I want to make sure loved ones receive the personal care they deserve (and pay for). Just like the childcare profession, care workers in other professions (like nursing home employees) are also lacking in the pay they receive. I would support providing incentives to nursing home staff. We also need to make sure that nursing homes have an adequate number of inspectors (which would require additional funding) to inspect the facilities to ensure it is a safe place for both the employees to work and for the residents.

My mother died of lung cancer in 2022. I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2023. I spent the 2023 & 2024 legislative sessions going back and forth from Cedar Rapids and Des Moines going through chemo, surgery, radiation, and immunotherapy. I now have the personal experience of having had an immediate family member with cancer and going through it personally. Along with also having friends and coworkers go through cancer. Cancer is an issue that I believe touches every Iowan. You either have a friend or family member with it, have it yourself, or are concerned about getting it. We must address the high cancer rates. I absolutely support funding for cancer research, particularly for children’s cancer research which I learned more about this past legislative session. I support additional funding for screening and prevention programs. I have been working the past few years with a local cancer center and area advocates to advance legislation to address some of these issues.

There are a variety of measures that need to be taken to address water quality. No Iowan should have to wonder if the water they are consuming is unsafe to drink. I have personally been following this issue from the cancer perspective through the Iowa Cancer Consortium who works with the Iowa Environmental Council and other organizations to address water quality as it relates to Iowa’s cancer rates. I have also supported the DNR on funding for their water quality projects, especially the ones through REAP. Further work from both sides of the aisle is needed when looking at conservation practices, buffer zones, urban & rural solutions and water quality improvement plans.

Iowa still does not have a true children’s mental health system. We created one when I first came into the legislature, however it was never fully funded. Working in a school and having children of my own who have required mental health services, I see firsthand how much this system is lacking. Lack of providers and facilities and lengthy waitlists. Iowa children and their families deserve a better system. When it comes to adult mental health there is room for strengthening that program as well. Linn County legislators recently held a mental health listening post to hear from families and mental health organizations who shared very valuable feedback. As a non-expert, I would consult with the mental health organizations in our state to determine what measures would be needed to determine the effectiveness.

Allow women to have bodily autonomy and make their own healthcare decisions.

No. Allow individuals to make their own healthcare decisions.

To improve the delivery of public education in Iowa I would ensure that all Iowa public schools receive appropriate funding to keep up with their rising costs and give staff, including support staff, better pay. When schools are funded adequately, they can better invest in the children they serve. Expectations for students, particularly those in the early childhood years, should have schooling that is developmentally appropriate for their young age. When it comes to the legislature having a say in curriculum standards, I think we need to be mindful of unfunded mandates, ensuring we are using science based and not agenda driven curriculum and ensuring we are having open communication with our local school boards who know their districts best and have a direct line to the children, families, communities they serve. This should not be a decision solely made by the state.

In Cedar Rapids, we are known as the City of Welcome. “Our city embraces its diversity and strives to create a community where everyone feels included”. Carrying this message across the state along with making investments in important infrastructure like roads, bridges, childcare, education, healthcare, and the workforce, will make Iowa a more attractive place for investment and growth.