Public schools are the heart of communities

Brian Bruening | Iowa House District 64

In rural Iowa, we need a leader with a forward-facing vision. Ask just about anyone who knows me, and they’ll say I don’t need anything else to do, definitely not a run for the Iowa state House. In addition to owning and operating Schera’s Algerian-American Restaurant in Elkader—I do everything from cook all the food and plan special events to wash the dishes and take out the trash — I’ve been the chair of the Clayton County Democrats since 2016 and have worked tirelessly to promote Elkader and the Driftless Area throughout the state and region. When we decided to settle in Elkader over 16 years ago, we were not only attracted to the natural beauty, but also to the friendliness of the people and the opportunities awaiting motivated folks willing to put in the work to create something of their own.

Many things have happened in those nearly 2 decades; the character of Northeast Iowa has changed. The state is no longer the open, welcoming place with a high quality of life and real opportunities that we saw when we chose to move back here. Surface water quality has plummeted, the chance for young people to get into a small scale farming operations has never been more difficult, schools have been chronically underfunded and have sunk from 1st in the nation to middle of the pack, and it seems like Iowa’s long history of being at the forefront of civil rights has been left in the past.

The most important lesson I’ve learned as an entrepreneur in a rural Iowa town is that your success depends on the success of your neighbors. We often see folks who drive 3 to 4 hours to eat at Schera’s, but their trip probably wouldn’t have happened without the excellent bed-and-breakfasts, unique shops, and vibrant downtown. We are our neighbors’ keepers; we need someone representing us who appreciate that fact.

I’m running for State Representative because I understand that public schools are the beating heart of our towns and that private school vouchers will only work to drain resources from already strapped rural school districts. I’m running because entrepreneurs are the economic engine of small towns and so state government should be doing more to foster their success. I’m running because reproductive health care shouldn’t be a governmental decision. I’m running because focusing on culture wars legislation won’t put food on our tables.

Brian Bruening is the Democratic candidate in House District 64.