What Iowa Senate candidates Harold Weilbrenner and Janice Weiner have said ahead of Election Day
Voters will choose between sitting Iowa City Council member Janice Weiner, a Democrat, and Republican Harold Weilbrenner in the Nov. 8 election for Iowa Senate District 45.
The two candidates running for the open seat, which covers most of Iowa City and all of University Heights, have spoken at several candidate forums ahead of Election Day. This includes a forum with the University of Iowa Faculty Senate and Staff Council on Oct. 6, a forum facilitated by the Johnson County Interfaith Coalition at The Purpose Place on Oct. 15 and a League of Women Voters forum, which Weilbrenner did not attend, on Oct. 11.
Weiner won a contested primary in June while Weilbrenner was nominated by a convention of Republicans to run following the primary.
The Press-Citizen compiled their comments at each forum to help inform voters. The winner will replace longtime Democratic state Sen. Joe Bolkcom, who announced his retirement last fall after nearly 22 years in the seat.
Election Day is Nov. 8 and early voting has already begun. More information on the election and candidates can be found at https://www.johnsoncountyiowa.gov/november-8-2022-general-election.
Johnson County voting guide 2022: What's on the ballot, how to register and how to vote early
Candidates give pitch to South District voters at Johnson County Interfaith Coalition forum
Both candidates spoke at The Purpose Place and were asked to address abortion and education to a crowd of more than 60 people. The two were among several candidates who attended the forum at the federal, state and county levels including Democratic gubernatorial candidate Deidre DeJear and Democrat Christina Bohannan, who is running for Iowa's 1st Congressional District.
Weiner introduced herself and said she was fortunate to have a "world-class" public education in Iowa City and that, combined with her experience as a U.S. diplomat, informed who she is. She said there is a particular reason why so many public servants are running.
"We served our country. We did the work of democracy at home and abroad and we are not about to see it torn down here," Weiner said.
Weiner said she thinks public money belongs in public schools and the state should stand up for reproductive rights. She warned that the right to an abortion is "hanging by a thread" after Roe v. Wade was overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court this year.
"I'm not aware that the Legislature has a medical degree. I'm not aware that the Legislature ... has a right to stand in a doctor's room. They certainly don't have the right to tell me, or you or your grandkids or your kids what they can do with your life," Weiner said.
More:Where Harold Weilbrenner and Janice Weiner stand on issues in the Senate District 45 race
She suggested if people want to be "pro-life" they should support funding parental leave, instituting a higher minimum wage and universal healthcare, childcare and pre-K.
Weilbrenner introduced himself to the crowd and said he graduated from high school in Ottumwa and later went to work for the state, spending his life helping veterans find jobs. He said he is anti-abortion, but believes in exceptions in the case of incest and rape and to save the mother's life.
Weilbrenner said education is the foundation for the future and said he thinks Iowa needs to have a good public education system. He said he would like to see a bigger focus on teaching financial responsibility in high school, as well as teaching trades classes like wood shop and home economics.
"We need to train kids up for the facts of what an ordinary citizen needs to do to survive in this country and live to the full pressure of what they want to become," he said.
Weilbrenner and Weiner talk UI tuition, free speech at Faculty Senate and Staff Council forum
Weiner and Weilbrenner spoke alongside Democratic state Sen. Kevin Kinney at a forum hosted by the UI Faculty Senate and Staff Council and were first asked what they view as the role of the Iowa Legislature to make tuition more affordable.
Weilbrenner questioned why the cost of education has increased so much compared to other services in the last 20 years. He said he'd want to assess what college courses are effective at leading to jobs and what regulations are put on universities.
Weiner said she thinks more investment is key and she would want the Legislature to fully fund the Board of Regent's requests, which she said have not been met. She said she would support adding programs that could forgive loans or tuition if a graduate stays in Iowa for a certain period of time.
Weiner said she also would create an endowment to help those who can't afford college.
When the two candidates were asked about free speech in public education and UI adding free speech training, Weiner said she condemns behavior by students that attempts to intimidate others based on their political beliefs and thinks the steps the regents have taken are an attempt to level the field. But she said she believes they're not sufficient.
"I would love to see things expanded so people can actually learn about the First Amendment from a law school professor. It would be great if they could have some professors talk to them about what academic freedom means, as well," Weiner said.
More:Where Kevin Kinney and Dawn Driscoll stand on key issues in the Iowa Senate District 46 race
Weilbrenner said he thinks it would be a good idea for students to wear name tags and talk to and get five signatures each from conservatives, liberals and moderates in their first week at school. He said while this practice sounds "old-fashioned," it might be a way to help solve divisions.
"A 15-minute training module is not going to cut it. We need to respect everybody," Weilbrenner said.
The candidates also discussed affirmative action, college courses and reproductive healthcare in this forum.
The full forum can be viewed at this link and starts around 40 minutes for these candidates.
Weiner stands alone at League of Women Voters forum, addressing gun rights, childcare and elections
Weiner was the only candidate in the Senate District 45 race who showed up to the League of Women Voters candidate forum on Oct. 11. She sat alongside the two candidates for Iowa House District 89, Republican Jacob Onken and Democrat Elinor Levin to answer questions on gun ownership, childcare and education.
Weiner, when asked about the proposed constitutional amendment to the Iowa Constitution on gun rights, said it doesn't reflect the Second Amendment, which already applies to Iowa law. She said it would be great if the amendment included the exact language of the U.S. Constitution, but it goes further and is more restrictive by adding the term "strict scrutiny."
"(Republicans) have created an amendment that would make it extremely difficult for us ever to pass reasonable, common sense gun legislation going further," Weiner said.
Weiner and the others were asked about how they would support accessible and affordable childcare. Weiner said she sees childcare as fundamental to the economy and wants to solve the childcare crisis in order to bring more people into the workforce.
"Wages are key. There have been a lot of efforts to increase the number of childcare buildings, the opportunities to expand facilities. But those aren't worth anything if we can't get the workers," Weiner said.
Weiner, Onken and Levin were also asked about concerns people have with election security. Weiner said she's worked as a poll worker and the security and bipartisan teamwork at every polling places makes Iowa's elections incredibly secure.
"We've had very, very few cases of voter fraud over many years," she said.
This forum can be viewed on the City Channel 4 YouTube page at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cr31inn1JFA&t=7s.
George Shillcock is the Press-Citizen's local government and development reporter covering Iowa City and Johnson County. He can be reached at (515) 350-6307, GShillcock@press-citizen.com and on Twitter @ShillcockGeorge
This article originally appeared on Iowa City Press-Citizen: Janice Weiner, Harold Weilbrenner address issues in Iowa Senate race
