Needs of the average Iowan matter

Kris Nall | House District 83

The other day as I was attending an event with other people running for elected office, I found myself listening to two incumbents (one Republican, one Democrat) discussing wage workers. They both expressed how they did not know how someone could live on minimum wage and feed a family on such a budget. “Well, spaghetti noodles are 95 cents for eight portions, and two jars (10 portions) of sauce are $1.60 apiece, so you can make eight meals for $4.15 — 52 cents/meal” They just stared at me, blinking. Huh, guess they haven’t had to keep an emergency $50 in their wallet to cover groceries or gas when the paycheck runs out or Bio-Life deferred you.

They say leadership is a privilege. You might think that means one is luck to be chosen. But another way to look at it is as that it is only for the select lucky few. If you look to any government body, you might see who those people are. Women make up 29 percent of the Legislature. Individuals over 60 make up 33 percent of the population but are more than 50 percent of the Iowa Legislature. Top professions are farmer, business owner/professional and retirees. The average Iowan is 38.3 years old and a woman (50.3 percent of Iowans are women). FYI: I am a 37-year-old woman, who works full time with two kids.

I moved to Iowa in 2003 to attend school and within a month met my husband. Twenty years later, here I am, a mother, a wife, an administrative assistant, running for my local house seat (District 83- Rural/small town Linn County) against a business owner. Why? Because public schools matter, abortion access matters, affordable health care, child care matter. Because the average Iowan should be represented in the Iowa Legislature. Because when there is a disconnect between the governing body and the people who are served by that body, it causes policies and laws that favor the select few and not the general populace. We need leadership that understands what it is like to face overwhelming medical debt. To face living paycheck to paycheck. To have a college degree and the best job you can find is part-time at minimum wage, but you get health care benefits.

We need representatives that will listen, who know how to work with people on both sides of the aisle, who believe in science and discourse. The average Iowan matters.

Kris Nall is the Democratic candidate in House District 83.