Two candidates are competing to represent Iowa House District 21, which covers parts of Warren and Marion counties, including Indianola, Milo, Lacona and Knoxville.

Incumbent Rep. Brooke Boden, a Republican, is facing a challenge from Democrat Spencer Waugh. The two candidates ran unopposed in their party primaries in June and will now face-off in the general election Nov. 5.

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.

Who is Brooke Boden (incumbent)?

Age: 51

Party: Republican

Where did you grow up: Indianola

Current town of residence: Indianola

Education: High school graduate and some college education

Occupation: Self employed/small business owner

Political experience and civic activities:

• State representative for two terms
• Prior co-chair of the Warren County Republican Central Committee
• Member of the Elks Lodge
• Active member of my church

Who is Spencer Waugh?

Age: 49

Party: Democrat

Where did you grow up: Rapid City, South Dakota

Current town of residence: Indianola

Education:

• Bachelor of Art from Central College
• Master’s from University of Nebraska at Lincoln

Occupation: Educator at Simpson College

Political experience and civic activities:

• National champion debate coach
• Actively involved with the Iowa High School Speech Association
• Lutheran Church of Hope
• 2024 National Speech & Debate Tournament local host steering committee

What would be your top issue should you be elected?

Boden: I will always fight for Iowans to keep more of their hard-earned dollars. As Iowans struggle in this economy, it’s my top priority to keep costs down, eliminate reckless spending, and fight inflation. In my time in the Legislature, I’ve supported historic tax cuts, including cutting taxes for every Iowa family, removing the tax on retirement income, and providing property tax relief.

Waugh: Education

What policies would you support to improve Iowa’s education system?

Boden: I supported legislation to raise teacher salaries to the fifth highest in the nation and also raise paraprofessionals’ pay. I have worked hard to ensure we are holding bad actors accountable, keeping them away from our children especially in the classroom where all children deserve to feel safe. I ran a bill that requires schools to report grooming. I’ve addressed issues right here in District 21 and have worked on several bills pertaining to bullying. Next, I’d like to look toward providing whistleblower protections for school students, teachers, staff, and parents.

Waugh: Having 26 years of experience in education, I trust our teachers and administrators to be key stakeholders to solve the challenges. Iowa should strive to be the model that others wish to follow. When I started teaching, every other state wanted to do what we were doing in Iowa. It is time to be a national leader in education again. First, the AEA bill must be repealed. We must bring all stakeholders together to work on a solution for students, families and teachers. All students must have access to a world-class education. Teachers must be trusted and treated like professionals.

What do you think Iowa’s tax policy should be? Do you believe the state’s priority should be on lowering rates or spending on services for Iowans?

Boden: Here in Iowa, we have proven that we can do both on a balanced budget. We can lower tax rates and still provide excellent services. Going forward, we need to lower tax rates. When Iowans have more money in their pockets they will invest that money back into our local economies.

Waugh: I strongly support tax cuts for Iowa’s middle class. This can be accomplished by creating policies that create growth, add population, and therefore add to our tax base. We need to find ways to make sure our young people want to stay here so that companies will have a vibrant labor force. This means good schools, strong infrastructure, and jobs that pay well. So I don’t buy that you have to prioritize one over the other. A good policy maker will bring businesses and increase revenues here in the state so that Iowans have the services they need.

What policies would you support to improve school safety in Iowa?

Boden: We must take a multi-pronged approach to school safety. Students and staff deserve the security provided by school resources officers, gun detection technology, and professionally trained staff. In Iowa, we’ve worked for real solutions to these tragic scenarios. Our goal is to lower emergency response times, which will be the difference in lives saved if tragedy were to strike our communities here in Warren and Marion counties.

Waugh: Iowa should prioritize mental health care so that all students have access. This means significantly increasing school psychologists and counselors, especially in rural areas. I do not support arming teachers, but school resource officers are an important part of secure schools for our students.

Iowa’s six-week “fetal heartbeat” abortion ban is now in effect. What next steps do you believe the Iowa Legislature should take when it comes to abortion?

Boden: Now that the heartbeat bill is in effect, I believe we should focus on fighting for policies that promote life and support strong families in Iowa. My focus is on making improvements to our foster care and adoption systems, increasing access to quality maternal health care, providing financial and educational support for new parents, particularly in the case of unplanned pregnancies, and expanding access to quality and affordable child care.

Waugh: If elected, I would work with the Republicans to honor what I believe to be true: The Legislature should make sure a woman can make that decision with her doctor, not with her elected officials. I also know this law is causing families seeking fertility treatments real difficulty and pain because it could limit a patient’s access to fertility treatments. We must protect and support the rights of every patient to choose the medical care that best fits their needs, without government interference. 

Michaela Ramm covers health care for the Des Moines Register. She can be reached at mramm@registermedia.com, at (319) 339-7354 or on Twitter at @Michaela_Ramm.