Q&A with Iowa House 89 candidate Jacob Onken

Jacob Onken, 33, of Iowa City, is the Republican candidate for Iowa House District 89 in the Nov. 8 general election. Onken, who has not previously held elected office, works as a contracts manager for Collins Aerospace. Onken faces Democrat Elinor Levin in the race.

The Gazette posed a set of questions to all area statehouse candidates. Below is the transcript of Onken’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?

Onken: Protecting the Vulnerable: From the time of conception, individuals inherit the right to life. I fully support the Life Amendment, which would improve the Iowa Constitution to explicitly reject the right to an abortion and reject the principle of tax-funded abortion. Medical Freedom: I want to live in an Iowa that protects my medical freedoms by opposing jab mandates and forced masking. We must limit the government’s ability to quash our God-given rights in situations like Covid, in the name of public health. School Choice: I want to live in an Iowa that encourages competition in education. Money should follow the student to whatever school they determine is the best fit for them, regardless of whether that is a public school, a private school, a charter school, or a home school.

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

Onken: No, I believe the cost of the Co2 pipelines is not worth the forecasted benefit they claim to bring.

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

Onken: If the government wants to force an Iowa out of their home, they should be willing to pay at least double the assessed (taxable) property value.

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

Onken: Divide the surplus evenly by the number of individuals that paid Iowa state taxes and distribute they money evenly among that same group of people this would serve as a kind of tax break for those that paid taxes that are too high (considering taxes are too high across the board).

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

Onken: Generally, I support lower taxes for individuals and time limits on tax incentives/breaks provided to corporations.

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

Onken: The only time abortion should be legally permitted in Iowa are in situations where the Mothers life is at risk. When time permits, at least 3 Doctors must conclude that the Mothers life is at risk. Doctors that perform an abortion without the concurrence of at least 2 other Doctors would be subject to discipline. When time does not permit, and there is no time to obtain the concurrence of at least 3 Doctors, such situations that result in an abortion would need to be reviewed by a medical board. If the medical board does not agree with the Doctors decision that the Mothers life was at risk, said Doctor would be subject to discipline. In no other situations should abortion be permitted in Iowa.

What are your ideas for improving public schools?

Onken: We should encourage competition in the schools. School choice is a great way to do this and when this occurs, the money should follow the student. This would make it possible for many parents to home-school their children and/or make it affordable for parents to send their kids to private schools or charter schools. Furthermore, schools have no business teaching children about gender ideology or sexual orientation. Children are extremely impressionable and in a position of vulnerability as students. The law should require schools to be more transparent about what happens in our schools. The law should also limit when LGBTQ topics can be discussed in our public schools. Lastly, students should only be permitted to use the bathroom that aligns with the gender they were assigned at birth.

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?

Onken: So long as those funds come from the school district that student would normally attend. The money should follow the student.

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

Onken: Yes, speeding is a misdemeanor in Iowa, nobody should be charged with a misdemeanor unless there is a witness against them, this is part of the Sixth Amendment’s Confrontation Clause. When speed cameras are involved, the driver is never confronted by a police officer (witness) who then issues the citation. Those who receive tickets in the mail do not have the opportunity to cross-examine or subpoena the camera equipment operators or anyone else who handled the evidence.