Ahead of the Nov. 5 general election, the T-R sent out questionnaires to the candidates in competitive races for local, state and federal offices within our coverage area. Today’s spotlight is focused on the two candidates in the race to replace retiring Rep. Dave Deyoe, a Republican from Nevada, in Iowa House District 51, which covers the northwest, southwest and northeast quadrants of Marshall County — including communities like Green Mountain, Albion, Liscomb, St. Anthony, Clemons, Rhodes, Melbourne and State Center — along with a large swath of Story County outside of Ames. Republican Brett Barker is a pharmacist who serves as the mayor of Nevada, while Democrat Ryan Condon, also of Nevada, is a U.S. Army veteran who is currently an Eligibility Benefits Specialist for food assistance, Medicaid, and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families.

The first half of their responses were printed in yesterday’s paper, and the second half are included below. Tomorrow’s T-R will feature the first half of the responses in the race for Iowa House District 52, which includes the city of Marshalltown and the southeast part of Marshall County. Republican David Blom of Marshalltown is challenging two-term incumbent Democrat Sue Cahill, also of Marshalltown.

8. The Iowa Veterans Home has been in the headlines several times over the last few months related to the recent restructuring, and Rep. Sue Cahill has called for State Auditor Rob Sand to perform an audit of the state-run facility. How can the legislature ensure that IVH is living up to its obligations to veterans and providing the best care possible?

Brett Barker: Our veterans sacrificed for our country and they deserve the very best care. If elected, I intend to listen to veterans and the hardworking staff at the Iowa Veterans Home to hear what they need from the state. I will be their voice in the Statehouse and will work with our federal officials to make sure they get the support and resources they deserve.

Ryan Condon: We need to strengthen, not weaken, our state auditor office. We also need to hire more investigators to prevent government fraud, waste and abuse.

9. Do you support the use of eminent domain on private property for carbon capture pipelines?

Barker: I believe that private property rights are foundational. In any situation, eminent domain should be exceedingly rare and the last resort. I support ensuring that our laws protect landowners from the abuse of eminent domain and are consistently applied across all industries.

Condon: No, I do not support eminent domain for carbon capture pipelines. If the company wants the land they can buy it and pay what the person wants, eminent domain should not be an option. I have not taken money from individuals and corporations involved in this, unlike my opponent.

10. The state currently has a record surplus. What, if anything, would you propose putting that money toward?

Barker: We should continue to return surplus funds to hard working taxpayers while ensuring that our state services are delivered cost-effectively. While inflation skyrockets, there is no better time to provide tax relief to hard working Iowans.

Condon: I have an issue with the term “surplus.” If I don’t pay my mortgage, I have more money in my checking account, it doesn’t mean I have a “surplus”, I just didn’t pay my bills. The state had been backfilling funding to counties and towns because of the commercial tax cuts, but that is ending. Those services are simply going to disappear. Part of this “surplus” is unspent COVID funds, one time money that we are using to support unsustainable programs like the ESA. We should instead pay the bills that are due and if there remains funds available, use it to address the very real concern of outrageous property taxes in our state.

11. Should the state of Iowa legalize marijuana for recreational use? Why or why not?

Barker: The use of products with high concentrations of THC are shown to have significant risks to mental health, especially in young adults. I would not support full legalization, but I would support a data-driven review of lower concentrations.

Condon: We should absolutely legalize marijuana. Almost every state has it legalized around Iowa. I refuse to believe that they can make it work but not Iowa? No, it should be legalized, regulated and taxed. It could open a potentially lucrative revenue source that Iowa needs.

12. If elected, how would you address the childcare situation in Iowa?

Barker: Every community is struggling with childcare, which has gotten worse in the current inflationary environment. Family budgets are tighter, but wages to attract childcare workers are continuing to rise. In addition to state incentives, many communities are providing local incentives for childcare providers. The state should consider expanding incentives and tax credits for childcare providers while also expanding child tax credits to taxpayers to help empower and strengthen families who are the future of our state.

Condon: We need to make it easier to both start and run childcare. Where regulations and red tape can be reduced to entice more childcare options to open we should, and those regulations need to be examined. We also need to invest in childcare- perhaps a grant program or forgivable small business loans to encourage individuals to help expand child care options in Iowa.

13. Are there any major agricultural policy changes you would suggest if elected?

Barker: Iowa feeds and fuels the world and agriculture is the bedrock of our state’s economy. We must continue to allow our farmers to innovate and lead the way on sustainable practices, which have included voluntary programs of no till and cover crops. We should continue to support renewable fuels and the cost-share of infrastructure and maintain funding for the nutrient reduction strategy. Iowa’s grain indemnity fund needs to be modernized. Iowa must also continue to ensure that foreign adversaries are not able to control our valuable land.

Condon: I am not a farmer, so I would seek out those with more knowledge than I possess to help me make those decisions, I would try to help address the rising costs of inputs for farmers, as many of the farmers I have spoken to have listed that as their top concern.

14. If it hasn’t been asked yet, what’s another topic you’d like to address once you take office? Additionally, are there any issues specific to Story and Marshall counties you would seek to address?

Barker: Iowa’s community pharmacies are continuing to struggle resulting in a significant number of communities losing their local pharmacies. These closures are the direct result of abusive practices of the middlemen known as Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs). Iowa should continue to reform PBMs to provide more transparency to the system and more protections for Iowans, employers, and local pharmacies.

Condon: I believe Iowa needs to address term limits and money in our politics. I realize that will be extremely difficult, but I would hope to find others on both sides of the aisle to pursue those goals. We need to invest heavily into putting the trades back into our high schools and encourage our young people to pursue those career paths. I would also join the republicans in their suit in regards to eminent domain. It is morally repugnant that we have allowed this eminent domain abuse in our state.