Where Wayne Grell, Amy Nielsen and Jacob Wenck stand on issues in the House District 85 race
Democratic state Rep. Amy Nielsen is being challenged by Republican Wayne Grell and Libertarian Jacob Wenck to represent Iowa House District 85 covering North Liberty, Solon and northeastern Johnson County.
Nielsen is the current representative for Iowa House District 77, which covers North Liberty and much of rural western and southern Johnson County. She is a former mayor of North Liberty, the first woman ever to serve in that role.
Grell is a retired business owner who owned warehouses, packaging and trucking businesses, and a bar. No Republican ran in the primary, but Grell was nominated by a party convention made up of delegates from the district on July 7.
Wenck is a resident of North Liberty and a case manager. He is the only Libertarian running in any local Johnson County race.
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.
All three candidates participated in a forum held for Iowa House District 85 last week and debated a broad range of issues including marijuana legalization and eminent domain.
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 Wayne Grell?
Age: 62
Party: Republican
Where did you grow up? Johnson County
Current town of residence: North Liberty
Education: Kirkwood Community College graduate
Occupation: Retired business owner
Political experience and civic activities: Ten years on North Liberty Board of Adjustment.
Who is Amy Nielsen?
Age: 45
Party: Democrat
Where did you grow up? Keokuk and Hills
Current town of residence: North Liberty
Education: Iowa City West High School 1995 graduate. Kirkwood Community College 1997 graduate
Occupation: Stay-at-home mom and state legislator
Political experience and civic activities: Iowa House District 77 state representative from 2016 to present. Ranking member of Iowa House Commerce Committee and member of several other committees, including the State Government and Ways and Means committees. North Liberty mayor from 2014-16. Former campaign manager for local campaigns and former presidential campaign volunteer. Volunteer experience at North Liberty Community Food Pantry, Iowa City Community School District, Garner Elementary and North Central Junior High School.
Who is Jacob Wenck?
Age: 23
Party: Libertarian
Where did you grow up? North Liberty
Current town of residence: North Liberty
Education: Bachelor's degree in social work from University of Iowa
Occupation: Case manager
Political experience and civic activities: The 2022 midterms is my first time running for office. I have taken various political science classes during my college education and regularly contact my legislators via email to voice my concerns.
What would be your top issue should you be elected?
Grell: Support our schools by providing more parental control and transparency.
Nielsen: My top priority has been and always will be my neighbors. Defending public education, increasing workforce apprenticeship opportunities, lowering costs, expanding access to all health care no matter the Zip code, and supporting small businesses.
Wenck: Preventing government from initiating martial law polices under the guise of public safety.
Iowans are struggling with rising costs and inflation. What can the state do to help them make ends meet?
Grell: Eliminating redundant and unnecessary state regulations.
Nielsen: The Legislature can expand access to affordable child care, lower taxes for working families, grow the use of renewable energy to further lower gas prices and utility costs, and continue to create good jobs.
Wenck: Limiting government spending will help to lower the rise of inflation as well as reducing the need for taxation. This will increase the value and quantity of money Iowans have and will promote the spending of that money into Iowa's private sector.
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.
Grell: I'm on the pro-life side. But women should have a say in what happens to their body.
Nielsen: Like a strong majority of Iowans, I believe in reproductive freedom and do not support an abortion ban in Iowa.
Wenck: Abortion should be legal during the first trimester. If there is a medical emergency during a later stage of pregnancy, abortion may be allowed.
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?
Grell: Yes, the more competition the better.
Nielsen: We cannot afford to divest in public education and provide less opportunities for Iowa's kids. Under the governor’s voucher bill, the first year of vouchers would cost Iowa taxpayers $55 million. In year two, there would be a direct cut of $79 million from public schools. Currently, Iowa funds 11 programs that benefit either a private school or home school services, and it is estimated that $104 million went to these programs for fiscal year 2022. These programs include nonpublic school transportation, lunch aid to nonpublic schools, and the expansion of the 529 Education Plan for K-12 nonpublic expenses.
Wenck: No, public funds should not be used for private institutions. Iowans with children attending private schools should have a reduction to their taxes.
What new laws, if any, do you believe Iowa should pass regarding guns?
Grell: None.
Nielsen: I support common-sense gun safety laws. It’s important that we don’t only focus attention on the big things such as background checks. We also need to provide funds for crisis intervention programs to keep firearms out of the hands of people who are a danger to themselves and others, close the “boyfriend loophole,” and invest in community anti-violence programs.
Wenck: Iowa should no longer recognize the National Firearms Act.
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 85 candidates stand on abortion, education
