Gazette endorsements for Iowa Senate

Editor’s note: Traditionally, The Gazette editorial board has met face-to-face, or by Zoom, with candidates running in local legislative elections. In recent election cycles, many candidates, mostly Republicans, have declined our invitation. This year, with hopes of improving participation, we sent candidates a series of questions on major issues, carbon pipelines, how to best use the state’s budget surplus, how to improve public schools, if they support publicly-funded private school scholarships, abortion rights and other issues. Unfortunately, most Republicans again declined to answer questions. But we’re pressing ahead with our traditional endorsements. Candidates who did not participate cannot earn our endorsement.

Senate District 37

In Senate District 37, which includes Marion and parts of Cedar Rapids east of Collins Road, Democratic state Rep. Molly Donahue is running against Republican Kurt Alan Bendixen. Bendixen did not respond to our questionnaire, so our endorsement goes to Donahue.

Donahue contends the three most important issues facing Iowa are lowering costs for families, protecting abortion rights and investing in public schools. Donahue would advocate for middle-class tax reductions, expanding access to affordable child care and efforts to attract quality jobs.

Donahue wants to increase state aid to public schools by 4 percent, restore collective bargaining rights to teachers and other public sector employees, provide full funding for school lunches and reduce the amount of state testing that she says takes away learning time for students. Donahue opposes using public dollars to fund private school scholarships, which she contends would lead to a funding decrease that would harm rural public schools.

Senate District 39

The race in Senate District 39, which includes much of the southeast and southwest sides of Cedar Rapids, pits Democratic state Rep. Liz Bennett against Republican Bernie Hayes. Our endorsement goes to Bennett.

Bennett would push for new state spending on child care, with the goals of improving access, improving affordability and improving pay and working conditions for caregivers, who are in short supply. Bennett also would advocate for expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit for lower income workers.

Bennett says the state should stay out of Iowans’ “private, personal decision” to have an abortion. And she argues public dollars should go to public schools, not private school scholarships. In contrast, Hayes supports private school scholarships paid for with tax dollars and would restrict abortion with only an exception to protect the life of the mother.

Senate District 40

In Senate District 40, including Robins, Hiawatha and much of the northeast and northwest sides of Cedar Rapids, Democratic state Sen. Todd Taylor is up against Republican Kris Gulick, a longtime member of the Cedar Rapids City Council. Our endorsement goes to Gulick.

Gulick is a rare Republican moderate in this year’s slate of legislative candidates. He supports existing abortion laws “and the reproductive rights they provide.” Gulick contends education, family planning and access to contraception can help Iowans avoid unwanted pregnancies.

On public education, Guilick wants to create incentives for new and innovative programs and partnering with business to prepare a future workforce. He would support incentives to recruit teachers. He would support using public dollars for private education if “solid data” shows such a move would improve Iowa’s education system overall. But he contends the state’s primary goal should be improving public schools.

With the likelihood of the Senate remaining in Republican hands, we believe Gulick’s presence in the majority caucus could benefit Cedar Rapids and its legislative agenda.

Senate District 42

The contest in Senate District 42, which includes rural Linn County and much of Benton County, includes Republican state Rep. Charlie McClintock, no-party candidate Bruce Gardner and Democratic political newcomer Jessica Wiskus. McClintock did not respond to our questionnaire. Our endorsement goes to Wiskus.

Wiskus was motivated to seek the Senate seat after becoming involved in efforts to oppose carbon capture pipelines that would affect her Lisbon neighbors. Wiskus opposes the use of eminent domain to obtain land for the pipelines from reluctant landowners.

Wiskus contends the partisan, nationalized agenda that has taken hold at the Statehouse doesn’t reflect Iowans’ values and undermines the common good. She points out that more than half the states currently have budget surpluses of $1 billion or more, and that Iowa can spend those dollars in a “resilient Iowa,” including investments in rural broadband, public schools and in hospitals and the overall health care system.

Wiskus argues declining reading scores among eighth-graders highlights to need to support preschool programs that can help develop literacy skills at an early age. She opposes using public dollars to fund private school scholarships.

Senate District 45

Democrat Janice Weiner, an Iowa City Council member, and Republican Harold Weilbrenner, are vying for the seat in Senate District 45, which covers most of Iowa City. Weilbrenner did not respond to our questionnaire, so our endorsement goes to Weiner.

Among Weiner’s legislative priorities are expanding voting rights by reversing voting restrictions approved in recent years and investing in the “full continuum” of public education, from preschool and K-12 to state universities, community colleges and apprenticeships. Weiner wants to keep the Legislature out of abortion decisions.

Weiner supports additional funding for the state’s court system, its mental health system, enforcement of nursing home regulations and efforts to clean up Iowa’s water. Weiner opposes funding private school scholarships at the expense of public schools, which educate the vast majority of Iowa students.

Senate District 46

The race in Senate District 46, which includes all of Washington and Iowa Counties as well as rural portions of Johnson County, pits Republican state Sen. Dawn Driscoll against Democratic state Sen. Kevin Kinney. Driscoll did not respond to our questionnaire, so our endorsement goes to Kinney.

Kinney has impressive experience in public service, including nine years on the Clear Creek Amana School Board and eight years in the state Senate. The retired deputy sheriff and farmer is known for his ability to work across the aisle with Republicans.

Public safety is among Kinney’s legislative priorities, including extending the civil statute of limitations for survivors of sexual abuse. He supports expanding access to affordable child care and attracting jobs that can help diversify the state’s rural economy.

(319) 398-8262; editorial@thegazette.com