Republicans aren't showing up at legislative forums in Johnson County

The three Republican Iowa legislators representing Johnson County have not been showing up at legislative forums in Johnson County despite the gains their party made in Iowa's most Democratic-voting county in the 2022 election.

Republican state Sen. Dawn Driscoll and state Reps. Heather Hora and Brad Sherman have all been absent from the last two legislative forums held by the nonpartisan League of Women Voters, but have attended similar events in GOP-voting Washington and Iowa counties.

Some members of Johnson County's Democratic delegation at a League of Women Voters forum Feb. 28 at The Center in Iowa City criticized their Republican colleagues for their absence.

"(We) continue to be very disappointed that our Republican colleagues choose not attend these events and hope they're able to join us in the future," state Sen. Zach Wahls said.

State Rep. Dave Jacoby said he thinks the reason "the other team" is not showing up at forums is because Republicans have been rude to people who have testified and presented during committee meetings during the current legislative session.

"It is out of hand," Jacoby said.

Republicans point to forums elsewhere, say they're busy when Johnson County's are held

The moderator of the event, Bea Hicks, said all three Republicans were invited to attend. Hicks said Driscoll declined due to family conflicts while Hora and Sherman did not respond.

Asked to comment, Driscoll told the Press-Citizen in an email that she has held several forums with Hora and plans to hold more with Sherman before this legislative session is over. She did not answer questions about why she did not show up to the League of Women Voters forums in Johnson County.

Driscoll said every Friday she also holds a "Day in the District" event where she travels District 46 in Johnson, Washington and Iowa counties, touring small businesses, schools and visiting with constituents. During the visits, she said, she often takes questions from people on legislation she is working on and other issues.

"It’s been an eye-opening experience to see all the amazing businesses and schools are in District 46 and look forward to continue with our forums and tours on Fridays in the District," Driscoll said.

Hora, in an email, said she has participated in several forums in Washington County, including one in Kalona on Feb. 10 put on by the Washington Chamber of Commerce in Washington County, and that there will be additional ones March 10 at Halcyon House in Washington and April 14 at the Washington County Hospitals and Clinics.

"We appreciate all the great conversation that we have at these forums and encourage any constituent that has questions either try and attend or reach out to Senator Driscoll or myself," Hora said.

She did not say why she missed the last two forums in Johnson County, but she pointed out that Saturdays present a challenge for both her and Driscoll because each is the mother of three children and both spend time with their families and work on their family farms on weekends.

Driscoll and Hora did not say whether they plan to attend the next League of Women Voters forum March 25.

Sherman did not respond to a request for comment. He and Driscoll have a forum planned at 9:30 a.m. Friday at Brickhouse Coffee in Williamsburg in Iowa County.

Absence comes despite GOP gains in Johnson County

Driscoll, Hora and Sherman skipped all Johnson County-based candidate forums in the 2022 election cycle. Hora and Driscoll attended a packed candidate forum in Washington County when Gov. Kim Reynolds showed up to support them.

Their absence in Johnson County comes despite stepped-up Republican efforts there in the past year, including an Iowa City fundraiser U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks held with Ohio U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan and a large door-knocking effort before the November vote.

After once-a-decade redistricting, Republicans in the 2022 voting hold two of the six Iowa House seats and one of three Iowa Senate seats representing Johnson County. Previously, state Rep. Bobby Kaufmann of Wilton was the sole Republican representing a part of Johnson County.

When he represented Johnson County prior to redistricting, Kaufmann attended the League of Women voters forums but stopped doing so during the COVID-19 pandemic when they switched to a virtual format.

Despite their November gains, including a larger share of the vote for Reynolds than in 2018, Republicans are still heavily outnumbered in Johnson County. Besides Wahls and Jacoby, Johnson County Democrats include state Sen. Janice Weiner and state Reps. Elinor Levin, Amy Nielsen and Adam Zabner. Unlike Hora, Sherman and Driscoll, none of them represent a second county.

More:People to Watch 2023: Iowa City's Adam Zabner brings different perspective to Legislature

George Shillcock is the Press-Citizen's local government and development reporter covering Iowa City and Johnson County. He can be reached at (319) 214-5039, GShillcock@press-citizen.com and on Twitter @ShillcockGeorge

This article originally appeared on Iowa City Press-Citizen: GOP lawmakers absent at legislative forums in Johnson County