Meet Iowa Senate District 17 candidates ToyA Johnson, Izaah Knox, Alejandro Murguia-Ortiz

Des Moines Register staff
·9 min read

Three candidates are vying for an open Iowa Senate seat in the heart of Des Moines.

Libertarian ToyA Johnson, Democrat Izaah Knox and no party candidate Alejandro Murguia-Ortiz are competing in Iowa Senate District 17, which includes downtown Des Moines. The seat has no incumbent.

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. Their answers have been lightly edited for length and clarity.

Early voting begins Oct. 19 for the Nov. 8 election.

More: A guide to voter rights in Iowa. What you need to know before you cast a ballot

Who is ToyA Johnson?

Age: 46

Party: Libertarian

Where did you grow up? Iowa

Current town of residence: Des Moines

Education:

  • Roosevelt '93

  • DMACC '08 '10

  • Iowa State University State Extension Program — Traumatic Brain Injury

  • HEARTLAND AEA — ParaEducator

  • NAMI —Train the Trainer

  • Alison Professional Programs

  • LexVid for Continued Legal Education

  • Liberty University — studied Bachelor of Science Paralegal Studies — two semesters left

  • Several other professional degrees, certificates and diplomas

Occupation: Consultant/Mediator at FreshStart Life Solutions

Political experience and civic activities:

  • FamiliesUnite.org — Families United Action Network — Authored, recommended and/ or lobbied for legislation that came up for votes, and or became law.

  • Co-Founder of Iowa Citizens For Justice 2014 — present

  • Advocate for Criminal Law Reform and Restorative Justice

  • Americorp — Facilitated collaboration that resulted in the Animal Rescue League having a bus stop and people being able to bring their pets on the bus.

  • I've attended hundreds of meetings, committees, and community events within the city over the years to make sure I am aware of the concerns of the people whom I seek to represent.

More:Iowa Poll: 2nd & 3rd congressional districts are tight; likely voters favor Republicans in 1st & 4th

Who is Izaah Knox?

Age: 45

Party: Democrat

Where did you grow up? Cedar Rapids and Seattle

Current town of residence: Des Moines

Education: BA — Drake, MA — Drake, ABD PHD — Iowa State

Occupation: Executive Director of Urban Dreams

Political experience and civic activities:

  • Campaign manager for two DMPS school board races: Cheatom and Knox

  • US Presidential Service Award for Volunteerism

  • Des Moines Civil and Human Rights Commission — past chair

  • Board and committee service:

  • Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines

  • Food Bank of Iowa - Operations committee

  • Simpson College Trustee

  • Wellmark Foundation

  • Mid Iowa Health Foundation

  • Community Choice Credit Union

  • Social Capital Tri-Chair for Capital Crossroads

  • The Guardian Project

  • Youth Justice Initiative

  • Polk County Housing Trust Fund

  • African American Leadership Forum Leadership

Who is Alejandro Murguia-Ortiz?

Age: 28

Party: No party

Where did you grow up? Sioux City

Current town of residence: Des Moines

Education: B.B.A. Information Systems, University of Iowa

Occupation: Community Organizer, Immigrant and Worker Rights

Political experience and civic activities: As an activist and community organizer, I've engaged in politics at all levels of government and even orchestrated civics education for new citizens. I've met with elected officials, advocated for policy change, and — most importantly — engaged in civil disobedience.

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What would be your top issue should you be elected?

Johnson: Maintaining the liberties that the people of Iowa prize, by creating, supporting and or opposing legislation that may infringe and/or impact substantially the expression of such rights. Included in those efforts will be finding more ways to keep the government out of your pocketbooks, bedrooms and medical decisions.

Knox: So far this election, I’ve knocked on over 7,000 doors, and the three issues that rose to the top of mind for Iowans in Senate District 17 are: making sure that public funds stay with public schools, Iowa continues to have access to safe and legal abortions, and that gun violence is frightening and needs to be addressed.I would add that protecting Iowans' civil and human rights within District 17 and all of Iowa encompasses these three issues and will guide how I listen to and lead the constituents at the State Capitol.

Murguia-Ortiz: Establish Direct DemocracyOur current government is too detached from the realities of poor and working-class families and is incapable of delivering on the will and needs of the people. We deserve a direct say in our laws and how our funds are used.Iowans should be able to vote directly for ballot initiatives and measures as is done in many cities and states across the U.S.

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Iowans are struggling with rising costs and inflation. What can the state do to help them make ends meet?

Johnson: 1. Make hemp and cannabis legal in all aspects. This not only assists medically needy Iowans but would also help both urban and rural areas by creating jobs, revitalizing smaller communities, draw new businesses and has positive environmental impacts in agriculture.Release nonviolent drug offenders to increase the worker pool.2. Reduce taxes and fees wherever possible — expand tax exemptions, increase resources allotted for families in crisis and implement a phase-out of benefits when benchmarks are reached.3. Increase educational advancement opportunities.4. Reduce barriers to innovation.5. Empower community agencies already doing the work.

Knox: Ensuring that all Iowans have access to social service safety nets and that these services are high quality, easy to obtain, and complete for those in need.Additionally, we must raise the minimum wage, reduce barriers for small business owners, and prepare the Iowa workforce for current needs and jobs of the future.

Murguia-Ortiz: Get money into people's hands, raise the minimum wage, and diversify Iowa industries.Instead of putting federal relief funds into the hands of families, elected officials in Iowa instead gave that money to developers, police, and corporations. Funds were used to build new prisons and further militarize state and local police departments while families struggled to pay for groceries and child care.Iowa's lack of diversity in agriculture, production, and manufacturing has made us too reliant on industries that are vulnerable to inflation and breaks in the supply chain.

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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.

Johnson: 1. Abortion is a matter of bodily autonomy. 2. No I don't think it should be banned, however I think evictionism is a better solution. 3. There should be guidelines in determining when and what procedure is appropriate for each situation after consultation with a qualified medical professional, as each girl or woman's situation in which termination is considered is uniquely different and should be treated as such. 4. We should continue to promote sexual responsibility for both men and women. 5. We should continue to promote prevention, access to resources and empower community agencies providing support services.

Knox: Iowans deserve the right to control their reproductive health care with their doctors and family. I will defend and protect access to affordable, high-quality sexual and reproductive health care, including abortion. I believe breaking the stigma is critical in our fight to protect Iowans’ reproductive freedom and right to control their bodies and futures. As a Planned Parenthood endorsed candidate, I trust Iowans to make health care decisions that are best for them and will do everything I can to protect that right.

Murguia-Ortiz: Abortion should be free, accessible and safe without exception. No person should ever face arrest or a breach of privacy for seeking the care that they need.

More:Iowa Poll: Chuck Grassley narrowly leads Mike Franken in US Senate race

What is the best way to improve Iowa’s education system?

Johnson: Innovate. I believe schools should run from pre-K to 10th grade. With funding from the 11th and 12th grades being used for sustaining those entering the workforce, incubating new business, trade and advance degree preparation, or completing a modified traditional learning path. Educators, parents and students could choose a blended schedule that includes on and off-campus participation. Provide curriculum and educational pathways based on student learning styles, development and interest. No child should be punished with the loss of education so developing and implementing mental health plans that include preventative, active & aftercare for students/families experiencing crisis is a must.

Knox: Make sure that public funds go to public schools and that public schools are fully funded to sufficiently serve students, teachers, and staff.Funding free all-day pre-K starting at three years old for every child in Iowa.Investing so that the trades are offered to all high school students, making community college debt-free and funding four-year institutions at a level that tuition stops rising.

Murguia-Ortiz: Public education should be fully funded, fully staffed and fully accessible. Everyone deserves free pre-K, college, and trade school education.Schools need staffing, cultural competence, and language capacity to adequately communicate with families. Educators deserve a living wage and the support of their district and community. Teachers should not have to fund supplies and materials for their classrooms.Schools should not be policing students' gender identity nor re-writing history to admonish the U.S. of the injustices, inequality, and violence that constitute its brief 246-year history. A complete education requires understanding how our history influences the issues faced today.

More:Iowa revenue will dip as tax cut begins to take effect, state panel projects

What new laws, if any, do you believe Iowa should pass regarding guns?

Johnson: None.

Knox: I believe in universal background checks to purchase and robust regular training to acquire a permit to carry. We can protect the rights of responsible gun owners while still implementing common-sense gun safety laws.

Murguia-Ortiz: Weapons sales is a very lucrative industry in which our state and federal government are the biggest benefactors. Our continued commitment to militarize and police the world has been a driving force in local and global violent conflict — often creating situations where the U.S. government is in combat with individuals whom the U.S. armed.As a state and as a nation we must divest from this industry, make it impossible to profit from gun sales, and demilitarize local and state police.Guns are produced, very specifically, for the sake of violence and death — no one should profit from the deaths of others. The U.S. constantly profits from the deaths of people here and abroad; this needs to change.

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This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Meet the candidates for Iowa Senate District 17 in the 2022 election