Q&A: Ballot to feature two candidates for District 32 Iowa Senate seat

By Seth Boyes,

Voters across portions of northeast Iowa will decide who will represent Iowa’s District 32 in the Iowa Senate. Republican incumbent State Sen. Mike Klimesh is hoping to maintain his seat, and Democratic challenger Brian Bruening hopes to be elected to the position. District 32 encompasses all of Winneshiek County, Allamakee County, Clayton County and Howard County as well as portions of Fayette County and a small portion of Dubuque County. The Decorah Leader contacted several campaigns and submitted questionnaires to the candidates facing contested races this cycle. Their responses are printed here to help inform voters ahead of the upcoming election.

What inspired you to run for the District 32 seat in the Iowa Senate?

Bruening: There are several factors that prompted my decision to run. I have seen a lot of changes in Iowa over the last 18 years, and most of them aren’t for the better. Our surface water has turned into the most polluted in the country, we now have the second highest cancer incidence rate in the nation, and so many fundamental protections that existed when I was growing up, such as worker’s union rights, reproductive and maternal healthcare access and a first-in-the-nation public education, have all been eroded or stripped away by total Republican control of our government. We can’t afford to continue with the status quo of a senator that rubber stamps every one of the governor’s proposals created by highly paid — with taxpayer dollars — out-of-state consultants. The Driftless Area needs someone with a strong, caring voice to fight for them, and I want to be that person.

Klimesh: I served my first term as mayor in the early ‘90s, and I did it because I wanted to give back to my community. I ran for my first term in the senate for the very same reasons, and I am running for my second term with the same intentions. Representing the folks that elect you to do a job really should be, and is for me, reason enough to run.

What do you feel the role of a state lawmaker is, and how do you intend to fulfill that role if elected?

Bruening: Like any elected official, the role of a state senator requires frequent interactions with the people they represent in order to give them a voice in Des Moines. Even if there are differences of policy and opinion, an effective legislator should be prepared to defend their positions and explain to constituents why they stand by them through town halls and events open to the general public, not just sympathetic members of their own party. I am committed to an open dialogue with all voters in this district. In the end, an elected official is an advocate for the people they represent and not themselves.

Klimesh: We are in session for only four months of the year but are acting as a senator for 12. It’s important to remember that, as a public servant, you serve the public. You meet that role by being engaged in the communities you represent; visiting constituents, their cities or counties and taking those conversations to heart when you draft a bill, propose policy or vote on issues. It’s important to do your homework and be able to explain your position to those who disagree with you. In the end, they still may disagree, but they will understand that you put thought and homework into your decision.

More Q&A with the Iowa Senate candidates can be found in the October 17 Decorah Leader.

What do you feel is the most important issue to northeast Iowa voters, and what action should lawmakers take to address it?

How do you plan to stay in touch with the needs of constituents across the district, and how will their input guide your decisions in Des Moines if elected?

How do you plan to balance the needs of District 32 against the needs of Iowa as a whole, if and when they don’t necessarily align?

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Todd Pedlar
Guest
2 months ago

In the interest of informing the public about candidates for office, it would be really helpful if these Q&A pieces weren’t behind your paywall. It would be a good service to the public to make this issue free – it’s not too much to ask, I don’t think.