Two Republicans are running for office in Iowa House District 37.
The district covers portions of Jasper, Mahaska and Marion counties. The seat is open as current Republican state Rep. Barb Kniff McCulla runs for an open state Senate seat.
Republicans Jason Sandholdt and Chase Spencer are on the ballot. No Democrats have filed to run.
To help voters, the Des Moines Register sent questions to all federal and Des Moines area legislative candidates running for political office this year. Their answers have been lightly edited for length and clarity.
Iowa’s primary election is June 2.
Click below to see learn more about the candidates and where they stand on key issues:
| Bios | Top issue | Education | Taxes | Cancer rates | Eminent domain | Budget deficits |
Who is Jason Sandholdt?
Who is Chase Spencer?
What would be your top issue if elected?
Sandholdt (R): My top issue will to be a fiscally responsible representative that saves tax payer hard earned money while still funding Public Safety and Education. I truly believe you can do both and I will prove it. As a sheriff for the last 14 years and and as a state employee for my first 18 years of my career I have seen where state government can save money and be far more efficient and effective. We need to treat the state budget just like we do our own home finances and concentrate on the needs not the wants. I already have a plan in place to do this and I will lead the charge on it!
Spencer (R): My top priority if elected is strengthening our economy from the ground up by supporting small businesses. Too often, economic development is reduced to offering a low interest, government-subsidized loan to a business owner. Although that helps, business owners may not have the resources, the knowledge, or the support system to be successful. I work with business owners and student entrepreneurs every day, and I see that support isn’t always through a loan. It’s through education, community support and a business environment that makes it easier to start and grow a business.
What policies would you support to improve Iowa’s education system?
Spencer (R): Right now, school districts have limitations on how they use certain dollars. I would like to see those limitations relaxed to give communities and school districts the ability to invest the way they need to rather than being dictated at the Statehouse. This shifts more control to the local level, where it belongs.
Sandholdt (R): I have already started the process of surrounding myself with an advisory group of parents, educators (teachers, superintendents and financial and curriculum staff) that know far more ways to wisely use our tax money than I do. As a sheriff, I know public safety and the criminal justice system, but I am not an expert in education but I plan on learning from the experts. This group will consist of individuals from big and small school districts, public and private schools with a focus on what is best for all of our students. We will move forward together.
Do you support Iowa’s recent tax policy changes, including lowering income taxes, and what additional tax law changes would you support?
Sandholdt (R): Yes, we all want lower taxes, and I believe Republican leadership has us moving in the right direction over the last few years. I believe we now need to have serious discussions about property taxes! On my campaign trail I hear people say that these tax breaks are hurting county and city government operations. I believe we can save taxpayers’ hard earned money and still support local government if we as legislators are willing to make hard decisions to be more efficient at the state level, like I mentioned above. My whole life I have been a public servant, and I will fight for my constituents.
Spencer (R): I support tax policy that gives taxpayers more of what they worked for. Iowa Republicans have made great strides in ensuring that happens. At the same time, we need to look at ways to slim the budget and look for innovative solutions that reduce the tax burden and ensure the budget is balanced. It’s simple economics, you spend more than you take in and you have a problem.
What actions would you support to address Iowa’s high cancer rates?
Spencer (R): When it comes to addressing Iowa’s high cancer rates, there are a lot of factors in play. Therefore, I think we need to take a lot of different actions. One is to increase funding and create mandatories for testing radon. Another is looking at effective standards of monitoring water quality and raising awareness about the use of pesticides. There is not one group, industry or location to blame for our high cancer rates, but we need to work together to find solutions that work in our communities.
Sandholdt (R): We have all been touched by cancer, and we need to continue to ADEQUATELY FUND cancer research here in the state of Iowa. We need to research it both in the hospitals and in our communities. It is no secret that there are things that may lead to cancer such as high tobacco use, radon and obesity. We need to make this a bipartisan priority and take the finger-pointing out of it. I believe that water sampling should not just take place in rural areas surrounded by farm ground but also in our creeks and streams in our most metro areas.
When do you believe it is appropriate to use eminent domain, and should it be used to build carbon capture pipelines?
Sandholdt (R): Never. Landowners that want to profit from selling their easements should be able to, but the government should not force them to.
Spencer (R): No, eminent domain should not be used to build carbon capture pipelines. Eminent domain, by design, is meant to be used as a last resort to secure land for public use. Carbon capture pipelines are not for the public good, are not government funded, and not serving the best interests of Iowa landowners.
How would you remedy Iowa’s budget deficits driven by lost revenue? Are there certain services you would prioritize for cuts?
Spencer (R): We should always be looking at ways to make government more efficient and cut unnecessary expenditures. This is a process that should take place regularly to ensure money is being spent as it was intended and allow for adjustments when needed. Once again, we need to get innovative with how we support small businesses across our state. Empowering Iowans and generating economic activity fills in the gaps we see in our budget deficit and naturally decreases reliance on government. We should also be incentivizing public-private relationships in our state to lower the burden on either party.
Sandholdt (R): As I mentioned above, I already have a plan in place to help make state government more efficient and effective, and I will already have legislation drafted on day one to do this, which will save taxpayers’ hard earned dollars. As a current sitting sheriff, I use state resources on a daily basis and know the ones that are helping my constituents in times of need and ones that are in place just because they always have been. At the Capitol we need to continue to ask the hard questions and base our decisions on things that are evidence based and not what just feels good.
Read more about all the midterm candidates at: https://www.desmoinesregister.com/news/elections/.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Hear candidates in Iowa House District 37 on taxes, eminent domain
Reporting by Brianne Pfannenstiel, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
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