Deidre DeJear spends day at Ames' Dog-Eared Books: 'Democracy works when people are engaged'

Ames' Dog-Eared Books put Deidre DeJear to work Wednesday.

The Democratic gubernatorial candidate could be found stocking shelves at the independent book store which opened last year — doing the kind of volunteer work she said has been a part of her life. She said volunteering is in her comfort zone as growing up she was "volun-told" to give back to her community — a lesson from her parents in finding her larger purpose, she said.

More: 'Iowa is worth the work': Democrat Deidre DeJear is running for Iowa governor in 2022

DeJear said her reading typically emphasizes the past, believing that if "we're going to be writers of our future, we must be readers of our past." A recent favorite of hers is Robert Putnam's "The Upswing: How America Came Together a Century Ago."

"It really helps realize the potential that we have as a community in this democracy," DeJear said. "Democracy works when people are engaged and when people are involved."

DeJear started her Ames visit reading to children and making a guest appearance on the podcast "Bubbles and Books," hosted by Dog-Eared books co-owners Ellyn Grimm and Amanda Lepper.

On the podcast, they talked recent news around books, in a time when book burnings are held in certain parts of the country and book bans are discussed at the state level. A Republican bill was introduced at Iowa's Statehouse this year that would allow parents to sue schools for distributing obscene materials, as parents have felt powerless when challenging books offered at schools.

"The role of the government should be funding books in schools and libraries," DeJear told the bookstore's owners.

The businesswoman originally from Mississippi will likely oppose Republican incumbent Gov. Kim Reynolds, who is widely expected to announce her re-election bid Wednesday night.

After a failed run for Iowa's Secretary of State in 2018, DeJear re-enters the political realm as Iowa, like other states across the country, struggles in its pandemic recovery.

DeJear said Iowa needs to address its mental health services after Iowans mental health struggles were exacerbated by the pandemic and staffing shortages have put further strain on the state's resources.

She said the need for a larger investment in mental health services became even clearer as she had breakfast at East High School the morning of her Ames visit, following Monday night's shooting that resulted in one death, two critically injured and six teens charged with murder. Staff told her the school employs counselors, though they are more focused on career and academics rather than mental health.

"People say kids are so resilient, and they are, but they've still got to deal with things," DeJear said. "They still need someone to talk to."

The credibility of DeJear's campaign came into question after news that her campaign has just $8,500 in the bank, a gap of well over $4 million between her and Reynolds. Iowa legislator Ras Smith suspended his campaign for Iowa governor due to financial difficulties.

But DeJear said Wednesday those stories were more indicative of last year's fundraising, stating that her campaign has seen financial improvement in January and February.

She also received a boost this week when Fred Hubbell, a prominent state Democrat who ran unsuccessfully against Reynolds in 2018, announced his endorsement for DeJear.

A recent Iowa Poll put DeJear eights points behind Reynolds, though DeJear is confident she can close that gap. When asked about a shift to the right in Iowa — voting for Trump in the last two presidential elections after voting for Obama and maintaining a Republican trifecta at the Statehouse — Dejear said "that's what makes this a purple state."

"The Republicans had their chance," DeJear said. "I don't believe they took Iowa where we needed to be. Just as it swings one way, it can swing the other."

Danielle Gehr is a politics and government reporter for the Ames Tribune. She can be reached by email at dgehr@gannett.com, phone at (515) 663-6925 or on Twitter at @Dani_Gehr.

This article originally appeared on Ames Tribune: Deidre DeJear stocked shelves at Ames Dog-Eared Books campaign stop