Meet the candidates: Rep. Dave Deyoe challenge by Democrat Shelden Spencer for House District 49 seat

House District 49 covers much of eastern Story County including Story City and Nevada, and southern Hardin County.

Sheldon Spencer, Democrat

Age: 72

Place of birth: Freeport, Illinois

Party: Democrat

Office sought: State Representative for House District 49

Grew up: Alton, Illinois and Cleveland Heights, Ohio

Current home: Huxley, Iowa

Political experience: Ran for Congress in 2006, ran for state representative in 2010. Elected to Story County Soil/Water Commission 2014 and 2018.

Questions:

What is your top issue should you be elected?

As a doctor in Iowa for the past 30 years, I have seen the struggles that doctors and patients face with the cost and availability of health care. The affordability of tests, medications, hospitalizations, unfortunately, leads to poor clinical outcomes for many. Iowa has embraced the Affordable Care Act to some degree but building and expanding on this model would be useful in reducing the affordability/accessibility issues. The privatization of Medicaid has not worked as intended. The state has not saved money but rather is paying out extra to have substandard reimbursement protocols. The issue of affordable/accessible healthcare for all Iowans is not going away.

What’s the number one thing the Legislature should do to address the effects of the coronavirus pandemic in Iowa?

The number one thing the Iowa Legislature should do to address the effects of the coronavirus pandemic in Iowa would be to improve our public health services. We are still dealing with coronavirus and funding more robust testing and better contact tracing would improve our control of this current infection and provide the resources and standards for future infections. It is not a cost but having the Iowa Legislature requesting a face mask mandate and social distancing would be a responsible way of reducing the current coronavirus spread and establishing guidance for future infections. Improving our current control of this coronavirus outbreak will mitigate its economic effects.

Rep. Dave Deyoe (R-Nevada)

Age: 59

Place of birth: Manhattan, Kansas

Party: Republican

Office sought: Iowa House District 49

Grew up: Nevada, Iowa

Current home: Rural Nevada

Political experience: State House Representative (2007-present)

Questions:

What is your top issue should you be elected?

Iowa historically has had a tax system that is not competitive with our neighboring states and often has ranked near the bottom when compared to all states nationally. This has hurt our ability to grow and attract jobs.

We have made some progress in recent years and we need to continue working on it. We can do this responsibly by passing phased-in reforms that still provide enough state revenue to continue funding priorities in the state budget.

What’s the number one thing the Legislature should do to address the effects of the coronavirus pandemic in Iowa?

Iowa recently received some positive reviews in a national study that looked at the revenue shortfalls in all 50 states and how each state was prepared to weather the shock that occurred to each state’s budget because of coronavirus. The bottom line was that Iowa ranked at the top in both categories.

Our state budget is projected to have revenue declines less than half our neighbors. And, because we entered this year with our reserves full, and a budget that was sustainable, we are weathering this without having to make cuts to our local schools or healthcare as other states are going to have to do.

It is very important this coming year for the Legislature to continue to budget responsibly so that we can be prepared for whatever next year may bring.

This article originally appeared on Ames Tribune: Meet the candidates: Rep. Dave Deyoe challenge by Democrat Shelden Spencer for House District 49 seat

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