Tony Currin and Elinor Levin talk home rule, abortion, environment at House District 89 voter forum

The two Democrats running to replace retiring Democratic state Rep. Mary Mascher answered questions on key political issues from a small crowd Wednesday.

Tony Currin, a labor activist, and Elinor Levin, a private writing tutor and former English teacher, participated in the League of Women Voters of Johnson County forum at The Center, making their pitch as to why they should be the one to succeed the longtime state representative in Iowa House District 89, which covers southern Iowa City and University Heights.

Abortion, home rule, the environment, socialism and the Republican Party's trifecta control of state government were some of the main issues discussed.

The forum was moderated by LWV member Shannon Patrick. The LWV is a nonpartisan organization and regularly holds these forums before elections.

Democratic voters will pick the winner of this race in the June 7 primary election. That candidate will likely go on to run unopposed in the Nov. 8 general election. A full video of the voter forum is available on the City Channel 4 YouTube and Facebook page.

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Questions on home rule and other topics prompt attacks on Republican Party control

The candidates were first asked their thoughts on local control of governments and the idea of "home rule," or the ability of city or county governments to exercise powers of governance rather than leaving it up to state or federal government.

Currin answered by referencing how a mayor has neighbors, not constituents. He quickly shifted to saying Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds is grabbing power from local governments.

"We need to restore home rule and we need to fight for that as well as get more Democrats in power," he said.

Currin, who is the affirmative action chair for the Johnson County Democratic Party, focused much attention on calling for change in who leads the state government. He left questions on key issues largely unanswered.

When asked how to solve Iowa's water quality issues, Currin said Republicans are locking out Democrats from making decisions and said if he gets nominated his solution would be to build up the number of Democrats in the Legislature.

"So that even if we don't become the majority, they have to talk to us," he said.

Currin told the Press-Citizen in January that he wants to be a candidate in this safe Democratic seat who helps other Democrats get elected statewide, a mantle that he tried to push Wednesday.

"We cannot continue to do the same thing and effect a different result. We have to send a different person forward to break the monopoly that is being spread by the Republican Party," he said.

When Levin was asked about home rule, she said that the government that is closest to the problem is what should be offering an effective solution. She said state government should work in support of local government, and gave education and minimum wage as examples of what issues should be left to local governments.

"If a local government feels it is appropriate to raise the minimum wage in a certain county, the state government has no place stepping in and saying that is not an option that they have," Levin said.

Levin's comment was a not-so-subtle reference to Johnson County's unenforceable minimum wage law, which was recently increased to $11.56 per hour by the Board of Supervisors. The county's minimum wage is largely a suggestion, whereas the state's minimum wage of $7.25 is enforceable and is the same as the national minimum wage, which hasn't changed since 2009.

Levin also did not shy away from criticizing the other political party and said she hopes Democrats can once again gain power in the state.

When asked about water quality, Levin said she thinks the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and state agricultural boards are working together and have united goals. She said the state needs to listen more to organizations that do work to reduce nitrates, lead and other pollutants in Iowa's water.

Levin argued in her opening statement that her combination of compassion and communication skills is what is needed to make a change in the direction Iowa is heading.

"We need legislators who are going to talk to voters, who are going to make sure things change, so that voters see what state government can be doing for them," she said.

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Currin and Levin respond to U.S. Supreme Court possibly overturning Roe v. Wade

The candidates were asked to respond to the recent leak of a U.S. Supreme Court draft decision that would overturn Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey. This decision would allow states to institute bans on abortion.

Levin said "bodily autonomy" is not up for debate.

"We cannot force people in this country to donate organs against their will. We cannot force people in this country to give up their body for the betterment of someone else, even when they are on life support," she said. "What's the difference when we're talking about pregnancy, a fertilized embryo, a fetus?"

Levin said she's been fortunate to never have to seek an abortion but has supported people who have sought one.

"We never need to have the government in that decision-making process," she said.

Currin said, when bodily autonomy is up for debate, the government is considering making pregnant people second-class citizens.

"This is not going to stop abortions. The coat-hanger solution was around before Roe vs. Wade and will always remain. This is going to drive up death," he said.

Currin said banning and criminalizing abortion will be comparable to cases of Black Americans being denied healthcare access.

"This is what we would do to women," he said.

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Candidates laugh off 'socialist' label

When asked by an audience member what each of them do when the label of "socialist" is thrown at them, Currin joked that he has played a socialist in theater productions but isn't truly one himself.

"There is the words social and society. There is a responsibility of government to society. We cannot ignore it," he said.

Currin referenced President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and the "fireside chats" in which he spoke to constituents during the Great Depression. He said the problems of that era are still plaguing the country and the U.S. has to learn from them.

"Pure capitalism doesn't work. Pure communism doesn't work. Pure socialism doesn't work. Because nobody is pure. We have to blend," he said. "I'm not afraid of being a socialist, because I socialize."

Levin said she is not concerned with labels, using the anecdote of a conversation she had with a District 89 constituent who called her a "totalitarian utopian."

Levin asked what people are afraid of and concerned about when they say the word socialist. She said use of the word often reflects a fear from the middle-class that they will lose out while continuing to improve the lives of richer people.

"That's not the goal of socialism and, second of all, it's certainly not my goal," she said.

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More candidate forums planned before primary

Three more forums are scheduled over the next two weeks for contested races in the June 7 primary. Two for the Democrats running for Senate District 45 and Johnson County Supervisor will be on May 9 in The Center and a third for House District 91 Republicans will be held on May 12 in the Clear Creek Amana Middle School cafeteria.

More info on the primary election, how to register to vote and how to vote early are available on the Johnson County Auditor's website: https://johnsoncountyiowa.gov/auditor/elections.

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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: Democrats Tony Currin, Elinor Levin debate issues at Iowa City forum