Q&A with House 83 candidate Kris Nall

Kris Nall, 37, of Cedar Rapids, is the Democratic candidate for House District 83 in the Nov. 8 general election. Nall, a Realtor and property manager, is seeking her first term in elected office.

The Gazette posed a set of questions to all area statehouse candidates. Below is the transcript of Nall’s answers. Polls will be open on election day from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

What do you think are the three most important issues the state is facing? What would you do to address them?

Nall: With federal protections gone, abortion access will be decided at the state level. The state legislature and Governor have and will continue to remove access to abortion. The only way to stop them is to vote in those who support abortion access.

Rising expenses are hurting Iowa families. The legislature can help by increasing access to and affordability of child care, increase the state minimum wage, return collective bargaining rights. Focus tax relief on those who need it, not on corporations.

Public infrastructure is for the public good. That means supporting utility expansion for internet access and keeping public money in public schools. Not using eminent domain to enrich private companies at the expense of Iowa families.

Do you support the use of eminent domain for CO2 pipelines? Why or why not?

Nall: No. Public infrastructure is for the public good. That means providing the services and physical structures needed to support a safe and cared for populace, not using eminent domain to enrich private companies at the expense of Iowa families. The viability, safety, and long-term impact of these pipelines are heavily questioned. There is no clear public good with this issue, while there is clear negative effect to Iowa families that would have their home and land forcefully taken with little to no financial recourse.

What restrictions or limitations should be placed on the use of eminent domain for CO2 pipelines?

Nall: Simply, eminent domain should not be allowed for the CO2 pipelines. This is not a public infrastructure issue. This is private companies trying to increase their bottom lines by repurposing one waste product into a method to increase productive outlay at the expense of additional waste products. Iowa families should not be forced to sell their land and deal with these potentially hazardous structures for decades to come.

The state is projected to have a budget surplus of more than $1 billion. What would be your top priorities for that surplus?

Nall: Fully fund public schools. The better the state legislature funds schools, the less support public schools need from property tax dollars. That means when that state fully funds public schools, individual Iowans get a break on property taxes. After that we need to look at our infrastructure; What can we do to protect Iowa’s water? Increase internet access to more Iowans? Fix our roads/bridges? etc.

What changes — beyond those made in recent sessions — would you like to see made to Iowa's tax code?

Nall: I would like to see it codified that tax cut rollouts always start with the lowest income bracket rather than the highest, so those with the most need are served first.

Under what circumstances should Iowans be able to access abortion services in the state? What if any, exceptions should apply to any abortion bans?

Nall: I am one of the 60 percent of Iowans that believe abortion should be legal in all circumstances. Abortion is a medical procedure that should be a decision between the individual choosing it and their medical team.

What are your ideas for improving public schools?

Nall: We need to fully fund public schools. We need to give our teachers better bargaining access, better pay and better benefits to get better educators to want to work in Iowa. We need to create a master insurance program that would cover all education workers under one policy, allowing the state and schools to get better rates from insurance companies, reducing costs for both schools and individual educators. We need to offer classes about mental health care, classes that teach skilled labor skills like shop and auto.

Do you support further use of state funds to help parents pay the costs of non-public schools or home schooling for grades K-12? Why or why not?

Nall: No. As a person who had both a public and a private education (six years in each), I speak from experience that public dollars belong in public schools. Parents have a right to decide on their child's education, but public schools are a public service and as such are held to different standards then privately run schools or individual home-schoolers. As these private options are not required to comply with the standards of public schools, they should not qualify for those funds.

Should Iowa ban the use of hand-held mobile devices while driving?

Nall: Probably. In the U.S., roughly 400 fatal crashes happen each year as a direct result of texting and driving. As my husband (the driver's ed teacher) reminds me, a distracted driver is a dangerous driver. I would seriously question anyone who claims that they have never swerved while using a mobile device while driving.

Should automated traffic cameras be banned?

Nall: Undecided.