Meet Brian Lohse, who's running unopposed for Iowa House District 45 in Polk County
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Republican state Rep. Brian Lohse is running unopposed for reelection to a rural Polk County Iowa House seat this year.
Lohse is the only candidate on the ballot for Iowa House District 45, which encompasses much of rural Polk County, including Bondurant, Mitchellville, Elkhart, Alleman, Polk City and Runnels.
To help voters, the Des Moines Register sent questions to all federal, statewide and Des Moines area legislative candidates running for political office this year. His answers have been lightly edited for length and clarity.
Early voting begins Oct. 19 for the Nov. 8 election.
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Who is Brian Lohse?
Age: 53
Party: Republican
Where did you grow up? Amboy, Illinois
Current town of residence: Bondurant
Education: BS in Social Sciences from the University of Northwestern-St. Paul, St. Paul, MN (1991). JD from Drake University Law School (1995)
Occupation: Owner - Brick Street Market. Brick House Fitness.
Political experience and civic activities:
Board Member - Bondurant Planning and Zoning Commission.
Council Member and Mayor Pro Tem - Bondurant City Council.
Representative for Iowa House District 30 for 2 terms.
Former member of Bondurant Education Foundation and Bondurant Community Foundation.
Former president of Bondurant Development, Inc. and East Polk Innovation Collaborative.
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What would be your top issue should you be elected?
Lohse: Adoption. Over the past two years, I have co-sponsored several bills to make adoptions in the state of Iowa easier and less expensive. Only one of those bills has made it to the governor's desk. My highest priority is to get all of those bills signed into law. These bills include increasing the tax credits for adoption expenses, ensuring a biological mother can rescind a parental rights termination if the biological father does not agree to terminate his rights and expands the State Public Defender's role in representing the adoptive parents in the adoption proceeding at the cost of the state.
Iowans are struggling with rising costs and inflation. What can the state do to help them make ends meet?
Lohse: The legislature has done a tremendous job in cutting taxes and putting more money in the pockets of hard-working Iowans, all the while balancing budgets and increasing state revenue. Ensuring that we continue to spend conservatively and look for ways to continue to reduce the tax burdens of Iowans is a prime way to help them make ends meet.
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What do you believe Iowa’s abortion policy should be? Do you think abortion should be banned entirely? Do you think Iowa should have no restrictions? If you believe there should be some restrictions, please be specific about the restrictions and the exceptions you support.
Lohse: As a person who was adopted, along with each of my three siblings, before the Roe v. Wade decision, I've always stood strong for protecting unborn babies. I do not believe though that it should be banned entirely and will fight to ensure we have an exception for the protection of the life of the mother that is clear and cannot be interpreted to prohibit medical procedures that the medical community knows are necessary to do so. In addition, I am very open to a discussion for exceptions in the case of rape and incest.
What is the best way to improve Iowa’s education system?
Lohse: Iowa commits well over half of its budget to Iowa's education system, when you consider K-12 funding and higher education funding. As a legislator, I believe the best way we can improve education is to continue to focus on expanding STEM and vocational opportunities, including internship programs, for students in secondary and higher education. Also, we need parents to engage with their children's educators, not as adversaries, but as partners in the education of their children.
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What new laws, if any, do you believe Iowa should pass regarding guns?
Lohse: I am always open to listening. However, at this time, with the vote for the Iowa Second Amendment provision pending, I do not believe that we have a strong need for more gun legislation.
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This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Meet Iowa House District 45 candidate Brian Lohse before 2022 election
