Sun Courier note: Ahead of the November 8 General Election, Tama-Grundy Publishing sent out questionnaires to all of the declared candidates in the contested races in Tama County. On October 14, we printed responses from candidates for the Iowa House of Representatives. Last week we focused on Tama County Supervisors District 1 and County Treasurer. This week we are publishing responses from candidates for Iowa Senate. Early voting by absentee ballot in Iowa begins this Wednesday, Oct. 19 – including in person in county auditors’ offices.

Candidate Spotlight: State Senate District 27

Includes all of Grundy County and most of Tama County excluding Buckingham, Dysart, and Traer. Beginning with the 90th General Assembly in January of 2023, State Senator Eric Giddens (D-Cedar Falls) will represent the new Iowa Senate District 38 which includes Buckingham, Dysart, Traer, and Hudson. Sen. Giddens was not up for reelection this year.

SAM COX (DEMOCRAT)

Age: 53

Residence: Grinnell

Family: Married with four children – two sons and two daughters

Education: Graduate of GHS, Class of 1987; graduate with honors from Ellsworth Community College, Class of 1989

Profession: I own 2 coffee shops in Grinnell. Saints Rest Coffee shop and Lucky Cat drive-thru.

1. Why are you the best candidate for this office – what differentiates you from your opponent?

“I am the right candidate for the office because we need an equitable representation of our constituents in our state senate. When one party has too much power for too long the lack of what is fair and just is lost. Iowa has a history of being a purple state. We need to put political parties aside and start working together for the good of our communities. Our state house and Governor have lost sight of the greater good. It has become a single track to conservatism. I am am a rural democrat. I have conservative values balanced with moderation. The whole of Iowa is not conservative. 60% of our population believes in the right to choose. We must let our voices be heard. My opponent follows along party lines and must start looking at the bigger picture, not just the GOP agenda.”

2. What kind of legislator do you envision yourself to be? Are there any particular issues you would like to see addressed by the Iowa Legislature?

“I envision myself to be a legislator for the people of Iowa. One who votes their conscience and those of my constituents. I am available and genuinely want to listen and learn from those around me. I am willing to have civil conversations about our differences and still find our commonalities. I will work with both parties to achieve what is best for our state. My biggest issues are those that seem like the most basic of needs. Public education, mental health care, and the revitalization of our rural communities.”

3. What sources do you consult when hoping to learn more about a particular issue?

“At the very beginning of a fact-finding mission I research articles to get a better understanding of what the issue consists of. I then reach out to experts that I can get in touch with in regards to this issue. I may reach out to healthcare professionals, legal professionals, HR professionals, college professors, etc. I try to go through my many contacts in order to gain insight and expertise in order to help me better make an educated decision. I will of course reach across my counties and have conversations with my community members in order to determine what they would like to see happen in each situation.”

4. Where do you stand on funding for public schools, particularly rural public schools like those in Tama County – is it adequate or otherwise? Further, what is your position on the Student First Scholarship Program (private school voucher bill) backed by Gov. Kim Reynolds?

“I am a product of our public school system. I sent my children to public schools. I believe in our system. We employ trusted educators and administration who have studied these professions in order to educate our children to the best of their abilities. I believe in our local and state officials who oversee our public school system. I believe the experts when they say that we need more funding in order to regain our ranking nationally. In 2020 I took a job as a custodian in our public school system and saw firsthand the personal investments that our educators and administration make in order to help our kids. I saw the state of our schools and the need for more maintenance and upkeep. I see the need of better pay for our support staff in order to retain and attract them to our vacant positions. I do not support the private school voucher system. If you desire to send your children to a private school or home school your children that is your right. I however do not believe in taking money out of our public school system to serve the few when we cannot even begin to serve the many properly.”

5. Where do you stand on access to abortion in Iowa?

“Let me be clear… I believe you can be pro-life and be pro-choice. I will always support a woman’s right to choose. The decision on family planning is one that is private and between a woman, her family and her doctor. The government of the United States and the State of Iowa has no right to make that decision for any woman. If the state of Iowa wants to limit access to reproductive rights then they must be of help in the process, by offering free contraceptives, health screenings and education. The reduction in unwanted pregnancies will be the outcome. Since Iowa defunded Planned Parenthood and many closed the number of STDs, HIV and unwanted pregnancies have risen. We must get back to more access for all women, not less. If we are not going to hold men responsible in some way then we cannot ask Women to shoulder all of the responsibility.”

6. Do you believe the Iowa legislature is doing enough to address/prepare for the changing climate – particularly as the issue relates to farmers? Why or why not?

“Do I believe that the legislature is doing enough to address climate change in relation to farming? We are not doing enough to make it less burdensome for farmers to want to go greener but we are also not doing enough to protect our waterways and soil. We have to develop a relationship with our farmers that will allow them to have some say in this process. Adding incentives for them to participate in programs that are better for our environment will give them a reason to want to participate. When farmers have a place at the table in helping to shape our policy then it will be easier for them to want to follow it. There are so many options out there in order to improve, diversify, and grow Iowa agriculture. We as a state just have to come together with a clear vision with those it directly involves.”

7. If elected, what legislation will you support to ensure rural counties in Iowa like Tama County are places young families want to live and are able to live in the future?

“I’m not sure what legislation exists that ensures this now. We are in a cycle that seems never-ending. We want to attract manufacturing back to Iowa but to do that we need an employee pool. In order to have an employee pool we need affordable housing and childcare. The state has to begin stepping and helping smaller communities solve this issue. Our current government is out of touch with the middle class. They have no idea what it is like to live paycheck to paycheck. No idea what the cost of living and inflation is doing to these small communities. These issues are what is driving people out of the small towns and into the bigger cities. These issues need to be addressed. I honestly don’t know what the answer is but I do know the lack of attention isn’t solving the problem either. If elected I will not forget where I come from, my middle class upbringing or my small-town values. I will not back down from the hard work that is needed to continue to fight for this issue.”

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ANNETTE SWEENEY (REPUBLICAN)

Age: 64

Residence: Rural Buckeye

Family: Husband Dave Sweeney of 37 years, two sons, one daughter-in-law, one grandson

Education: B.S. Education

Profession: Past teacher, publishing business, and farmer

1. Why are you the best candidate for this office – what differentiates you from your opponent?

“I am proud to be running for my second full term in the Iowa Senate. Throughout my time there, we have passed a number of bills to help Iowa’s hard-working families, like historic income tax relief, eliminating the inheritance tax, tax relief for small businesses, and protecting Iowa’s agricultural industry. This is only the beginning of our successes, and as the voice for Senate District 27, I want to continue to fight for Iowa’s farmers and agriculture, responsible, conservative budgeting, and common-sense solutions to the issues Iowans are facing.”

2. What kind of legislator do you envision yourself to be? Are there any particular issues you would like to see addressed by the Iowa Legislature?

“As a farmer, agriculture issues are what I am passionate about at the Capitol. I’ve served on several committees in the Iowa Senate, including as the chair of the Natural Resources and Environment Committee, the vice chair of the Agriculture Committee, the Education Committee, the Human Resources Committee, and the Ways and Means Committee. I’ve worked on a number of issues in these committees, and the issues my constituents bring to me. For example, this year I am proud to pass a bill addressing fertility fraud after this horrible practice was brought to my attention by a constituent.”

3. What sources do you consult when hoping to learn more about a particular issue?

“When trying to learn more about an issue, I aim to work with the experts on the issue or topic, whatever it may be. This could be talking with state agencies, community members involved in the issue, and professionals who work in that area of the economy.”

4. Where do you stand on funding for public schools, particularly rural public schools like those in Tama County – is it adequate or otherwise? Further, what is your position on the Student First Scholarship Program (private school voucher bill) backed by Gov. Kim Reynolds?

“During my time in the Iowa Senate, I have supported increases to K-12 education each and every year. We’ve also passed legislation to help rural schools, like transportation and per pupil equity, to make sure money dedicated to educating Iowa students, especially in rural areas like Senate District 27, was actually being spent in the classroom and not on transportation. The Student First Scholarship Program proposed by Gov. Kim Reynolds is an issue I have heard a lot about. After talking with constituents, I decided not to support the bill in the Senate. I do want Iowa students to have options for their education and parents to have more of a voice in their child’s education, and education is always a priority issue for me in the Senate.”

5. Where do you stand on access to abortion in Iowa?

“I am pro-life and have been proud to support a number of pro-life bills in my time in the House and Senate. While I want to ensure life is protected, I think it’s best we see how the [Iowa] Supreme Court handles the laws we have already enacted before we move forward.”

6. Do you believe the Iowa legislature is doing enough to address/prepare for the changing climate – particularly as the issue relates to farmers? Why or why not?

“Our farmers and ranchers are working hard developing practices to reduce carbon footprint, improve water quality and establish habitat for wild animals. For water quality and carbon foot[print], Iowa’s Nutrient Reduction Strategy has been in place for almost 10 years and the adoption of those practices has continued to expand. For example, cover crops are now being used across the state for approximately 13 million acres. We have also increased access to cleaner burning fuel with ethanol. I am concerned about an overly heavy hand of the government forcing farmers to do practices that do not work on their operation.”

7. If elected, what legislation will you support to ensure rural counties in Iowa like Tama County are places young families want to live and are able to live in the future?

“We have a lot to offer young families, like tight-knit communities, good schools and affordable cost of living. One of the best things we can do to grow our state is continue looking at tax reform to make Iowa attractive for businesses and families, finding ways to make Iowa more competitive with the states around us, and bring more opportunities to Iowans. This is especially important for rural areas like ours as we continue making our state the best in the country to live, work and raise a family. Tax cuts also provide some relief to Iowans and young families trying to get started who are all struggling with record inflation caused by the reckless spending policies coming out of Washington, DC.”