Voters in Iowa House District 51 will choose between Ryan Condon (D) and Brett Barker (R) to represent them in the Iowa House.
According to his campaign website, Condon received his bachelor’s degree in psychology from Iowa State University and served in the Iowa National Guard. While in the National Guard, Condon received the Army Achievement Medal, Meritus Service Medal and Faithful Service Medal. He currently lives in Nevada, Iowa, with his family.
Barker did not respond to a request for comments for this article.
The following interview with Condon was conducted by email:
How do you plan to help Iowans struggling to find affordable childcare?
“We need to make it easier to both start up and maintain child care facilities. Some of that can be addressed through reducing some red tape and bureaucracy. A living wage for those child care workers also have to be provided as well. I believe we could look at tax incentives and possible grants or loan forgiveness for start ups, as well as encouraging licensed in home day care.”
Where do you stand on reproductive rights for Iowans?
“Iowans should have their reproductive rights free from government interference. Women’s healthcare should be between a woman, her doctor, and her family.”
What is your stance on lawmakers funding private school vouchers over public education?
“I am against the vouchers. School choice has been around for families in Iowa and will remain so. These vouchers are rife for corruption, and the private schools that they fund are free from oversight, standards, and are able to turn away students. They should be held to the same standards as public schools.”
How will you ensure children in Iowa schools are safe from gun violence?
“I support the 2nd amendment, but l will work to ensure universal background checks and enforce the laws already on the books, as well as removing bureaucratic roadblocks for communications between states, and hold parents accountable that do not secure firearms. We also need to seriously address mental healthcare in Iowa, not just pay lip service and invest nothing and provide schools the resources they need to prevent such violence.”
How do you plan to work with members of the opposing party to pass legislation that benefits your district?
“During my campaign I have garnered support from democrats, republicans, and independents alike because the most important thing is to work for everyday people, and I will continue to bring that to the state house. We need to get rid of the hold of special interest money that has captured our legislature and I will work with anyone to pursue that end. One action I will immediately take is to join the republicans in the legislature suing to prevent the carbon capture pipeline.”
