Where Elinor Levin and Jacob Onken stand on key issues in the Iowa House District 89 race
Democrat Elinor Levin and Republican Jacob Onken are running to represent Iowa House District 89, an open seat, in southern Iowa City and University Heights.
Levin is a private writing tutor from Iowa City who is involved in several Iowa City organizations like the South District Neighborhood Association and is seeking office for the first time. She won the Democratic Primary in June to run for this seat.
Onken, a contracts manager at Collins Aerospace, lives in Iowa City with his family and is also seeking elected office for the first time. Onken was nominated to run after the primary took place by a convention of Republicans in the district.
The seat became open after longtime state Rep. Mary Mascher retired after 28 years representing this area of Iowa City.
To help voters, the Press-Citizen sent questions to all Iowa City area legislative candidates. Their answers appear in alphabetical order by last name and have been lightly edited for length and clarity.
Both candidates participated in a forum held for Iowa House District 89 last week and debated gun rights, child care and other issues.
Early voting for the Nov. 8 election starts Oct. 19. More information about how to register to vote, what's on the ballot and where to vote can be found at https://www.johnsoncountyiowa.gov/auditor/elections.
More:Johnson County voting guide 2022: What's on the ballot, how to register and how to vote early
Who is Elinor Levin?
Age: 35
Party: Democrat
Where did you grow up? Palatine, Illinois
Current town of residence: Iowa City
Education: Bachelor's degree in education and English from Cornell College
Occupation: Writing tutor
Political experience and civic activities: League of Women Voters of Johnson County as a member, former member of board of directors, voter services committee and voter registration committee. Iowa City Community Theatre board member and past president. South District Neighborhood Association leadership ream. South District SSMID founding board member. Member of The Quire. UIHC volunteer.
Who is Jacob Onken?
Age: 32
Party: Republican
Where did you grow up? Donahue, Iowa
Current town of residence: Iowa City
Education: University of Iowa with a Juris Doctor and BYU-Idaho with a bachelor's degree in political science
Occupation: Attorney and contracts manager
Political experience and civic activities: Missionary experience - two years, Brazil.
What would be your top issue should you be elected?
Levin: I am motivated to ensure that Iowa is a place where people see a future for themselves and want to stay. That means a career that will sustain them, where they can feel proud of their work and see opportunities to grow. That means feeling that their families are welcome parts of the community. That means enjoying leisure and recreation, including the arts, the outdoors, sports, and so much more.
Onken: The life issue.
Iowans are struggling with rising costs and inflation. What can the state do to help them make ends meet?
Levin: The Iowa minimum wage has not increased in 14 years, and sits at the federal minimum wage. It needs to be increased immediately and should index to inflation over time. In addition, Iowa needs a progressive tax code that ensures Iowans have their basic needs met. A person or family that does not have enough income to afford housing, health care, nutrition, transportation and clothing should find tax relief under our system. We can promote adoption of form-based codes in development to develop communities of varied living styles and price points, and residential, public and commercial properties.
Onken: Audit the current welfare systems to ensure that recipients are indeed in need of assistance. Work with local non-taxable establishments (such as churches) to ensure that resources are being carefully utilized to help all those who need it.
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.
Levin: Abortions must be safe and legal, and a decision made by a pregnant person in consultation with their medical provider and any family or friends they decide to involve. Bodily autonomy is paramount to us as human beings. A person cannot legally be forced to give a part of their body without consent, even to save another person’s life, in any situation, even after death. This ideal must remain clear and consistent across all events, particularly medical situations.
Onken: The only time abortion should be legally permitted in Iowa are when the mother’s life is at risk and when time permits, at least three doctors must conclude this. Doctors performing abortions without the concurrence of two other doctors would be disciplined. When time doesn’t permit, and there isn’t time to obtain the concurrence of three doctors; abortions would need to be reviewed by a medical board. If the board doesn’t agree with the doctors’ conclusion, that the mother’s life was at risk, the doctor would be subject to discipline. In no other situations should abortion be permitted in Iowa.
The Legislature will likely consider a proposal again providing private school scholarships using funding from public schools in the next legislative session. Is this a plan you would support?
Levin: No. In order to best serve all children learning in Iowa, public funds must be for public schools. When public schools struggle to meet the needs of students, that is the time to boost support, both financial and institutional, rather than strip support away and leave educators trying to do so much more with less and less.
Onken: We should encourage competition in the schools. School choice is a great way to do this and when this occurs, the money should follow the student. This would make it possible for many parents to home-school their children and/or make it affordable for parents to send their kids to private schools or charter schools. The state frequently funds private entities with taxpayer dollars, this is no different.
What new laws, if any, do you believe Iowa should pass regarding guns?
Levin: My priority regarding gun laws in Iowa would be to ensure that anyone seeking to possess or carry a gun would be required to pass a safety course or associated test. It should be the legal responsibility of owners to report any firearms that are lost or stolen to officials, and high-capacity magazines, ghost guns and "junk" guns should be restricted or banned entirely. Finally, I feel that guns should be removed for a period of time from homes where an individual has demonstrated violent behavior or intentions toward themselves or others, including during the investigative stage of domestic violence accusations.
Onken: A law should be carefully crafted that would allow for a handful of anonymous teachers/school employees, at each school, to conceal-carry (or legally secure/store a firearm) while on school grounds. These teachers would be trained initially and quarterly on defense strategies to ensure their qualifications. Accepting this kind of responsibility would come with the incentive of a pay increase.
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: Where Iowa House District 89 candidates stand on the issues
