GOP state Rep. Brett Barker faces a primary challenge from Republican Shane Heintz to represent Iowa House District 51 in Story County.
The prevailing Republican is slated to face Democrat Teresa Perin in the November general election, which will decide who serves the district that includes Nevada, Maxwell and Huxley.
Perin is unopposed on the primary ballot.
To help voters, the Des Moines Register sent questions to all federal and Ames 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 Rep. Brett Barker?
Who is Shane Heintz?
Who is Teresa Perin?
What would be your top issue if elected?
Barker (R): I hear loud and clear from my constituents that the last several years of high inflation have made it hard on family budgets. I believe that the top priority of state government should be fiscal responsibility with your tax dollars. We must continue our commitment to cutting costs for Iowans including childcare, healthcare and everyday essentials. We must continue to champion an all of the above energy strategy that keeps costs lower for Iowans. Through continuing our commitment to responsible budgeting, House Republicans can keep taxes low and cut costs for Iowans.
Heintz (R): Protecting citizens from eminent domain abuses by private industry, i.e., carbon pipeline. I would like to work on making sure all children are offered a strong education. I want to be a voice for citizens while being financially responsible, transparent and accountable.
Perin (D): Revitalizing our rural communities is a top priority. I see this as connected to many issues — regenerative farming, ending food deserts, cleaner water. We have to support our farmers as we see increasing foreclosures and rising costs for needed inputs. As a teacher, education is also a priority. We need to fully fund our public schools and make sure public funds are for public schools. At the very least, any school receiving public dollars need to be held to the same accountability standards as public schools.
What policies would you support to improve Iowa’s education system?
Heintz (R): While the ESA program was probably well intended, the policies need to be reviewed to make sure they are not detrimental to public schools in the long run. There needs to be an extension of this policy to protect public schools.
Perin (D): We need to end the unlimited vouchers without accountability. We need to fully fund our public schools. We have to recruit and retain qualified teachers. Way too much time is spent on micromanaging curriculum and stoking fears on culture-war issues. As a teacher, I would love to see a limit to the amount of time students spend on computers — going back to real textbooks would be nice.
Barker (R): I have been laser focused on working with my colleagues to protect and support students, teachers, paraeducators and parents in our education system. The House has passed policy to codify classroom management tools to improve learning environments and make behavior management less burdensome for teachers. I will continue to support proposals to prevent bullying and harassment in our schools. We must continue to empower parents to be involved in their child’s education. We also should double down on proven reforms in literacy and mathematics.
Do you support Iowa’s recent tax policy changes, including lowering income taxes, and what additional tax law changes would you support?
Perin (D): You can’t end taxes if you want to provide services. I support a progressive income tax.
Barker (R): I believe that government should leave more of your money in your pockets. Responsible and efficient tax policy will help Iowans with affordability of daily necessities. With President Trump still fighting to lower costs for Americans, I’m happy that Iowans now have some of the lowest state taxes in the country. We have prioritized allowing Iowans to keep more of their hard-earned dollars. We also believe that Iowa taxpayers deserve certainty and stability in their property taxes. I am looking forward to voting to provide meaningful property tax relief for Iowans.
Heintz (R): Lowering property taxes and cutting spending across the board with special attention paid to “grants,” which are unaccountable spending projects paid for by the taxpayer.
What actions would you support to address Iowa’s high cancer rates?
Barker (R): I am proud to have supported our state’s historic investment in cancer research so we can ensure policy is evidence based to address the root of Iowa’s cancer problem. We have received the first report from the University of Iowa researchers. The major outlier in Iowa is lung cancer, which is why I have supported policy to address tobacco and radon, which are the top two causes of lung cancer in Iowa. I have also supported cancer screening for first responders. I am a champion for a specific appropriation for pediatric cancer research and hope that my colleagues will support this funding.
Heintz (R): There needs to be research on what causes it, not just assertions from “experts.” Is the problem from chemicals applied to ground, chemicals in food, genetics, etc.? Form policy to correct these issues once we know for sure where the problem lies.
Perin (D): We need more targeted research through our universities, and we need to listen to those experts. I absolutely support increased testing and remediation for radon. We also need to make sure we have access to health care for early detection and treatment.
When do you believe it is appropriate to use eminent domain, and should it be used to build carbon capture pipelines?
Heintz (R): As a last resort only for government use and NOT for private business at all. I absolutely do not support it for carbon capture pipelines.
Perin (R): I absolutely believe eminent domain for private business is not appropriate. It should not be used for carbon capture pipelines. I do understand and support eminent domain in the few cases it is necessary for the public good.
Barker (R): Iowa’s eminent domain process is broken. We have had issues with oil pipelines, carbon pipelines and will soon see it with hydrogen pipelines. Our process is set up to breed conflict and not cooperation. While we must protect landowners, prohibitions must be paired with common sense reform in order to protect the future of Iowa’s economy and provide new markets for our farmers. A reformed system will provide for a fully voluntary process that fuels our economy, raises commodity prices for our farmers and promotes demand at our factories.
How would you remedy Iowa’s budget deficits driven by lost revenue? Are there certain services you would prioritize for cuts?
Perin (D): It is not popular, but you can’t eliminate taxes if you don’t have any other funding source. We need to go back to a progressive tax. We need to prioritize maintaining services for people, rather than corporations. If we are going to offer incentives to bring businesses to Iowa, we need to prioritize businesses that will provide long-term good jobs (food processing rather than data centers).
Barker (R): Iowa Republicans have cut income taxes for every Iowan. The state had over-collected for years and built up large reserves, which could be used for their intended purpose: to provide tax relief for everyone. Coupled with federal tax changes, Iowans have seen a significant reduction in their income tax burden in 2026. Iowa is in a strong financial and economic position. These tax cuts are helping Iowans to make ends meet. Our projections show that revenues will continue to increase and there is no reason to consider cuts in services.
Heintz (R): Focus on waste and excess spending first. Then proceed to cuts across the board, just as most Iowans do when their costs/income stray too far apart. Grants will be at the top of my list, as I feel those are often written by and given to political insiders or the chosen few. Those funds come directly from taxpayers, they are not “free” money, and there is largely little oversight on where these funds go.
Read more about the midterm candidates at: https://www.desmoinesregister.com/news/elections/.
Marissa Payne covers the Iowa Statehouse and politics for the Register. Reach her by email at mjpayne@registermedia.com. Follow her on X at @marissajpayne.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Hear Story County’s House District 51 candidates on taxes, spending
Reporting by Marissa Payne, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
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