2 vying for Iowa Senate District 3 spot

Local Republicans in Iowa Senate District 3 will have two options when they hit the polls on June 7.

The GOP primary election ballot features Lynn Evans, of Aurelia, and Anthony LaBruna, of Sanborn. Both men are political newcomers and have never held elected office.

Evans is a former educator who previously served as superintendent at Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn and later Alta-Aurelia. He and his wife, Midge, have two grown children.

LaBruna is a native of California and moved to Iowa to attend college at Iowa State University. He most recently served as former President Donald Trump's White House Liaison to the United States Department of Commerce, where he worked alongside senior policy personnel to advance Trump's initiatives in a variety of governmental agencies and departments. Prior to his stint in Washington D.C., LaBruna worked for former Fourth District Rep. Steve King and also clerked in the Iowa Legislature for three years.

The winner of next week's primary will secure the GOP's nomination in District 3, which was formed during decennial redistricting last year. It includes all of Osceola, O'Brien and Buena Vista counties, as well as parts of Cherokee and Clay counties. No Democrats are running for their party's nomination in the district.

The newspaper sent both Evans and LaBruna questionnaires regarding their positions on various issues. Only Evans responded. Multiple attempts to reach LaBruna via telephone, email and Facebook Messenger were unsuccessful.

Do you support the governor's education reform plan that would give taxpayer-funded scholarships to families to help pay for private school expenses? Why or why not?

Lynn Evans: I support the limited use of ESA's in the governor's proposal. Parents should have a say in where and how their children are educated.

This cannot come at the expense of reduced per pupil funding for public schools. Competition in education can be a good thing, but this alone will not improve education in our state. With over 90 percent of our children educated in public schools, we cannot ignore our responsibility to provide the resources needed so that schools can truly work on improving student achievement. All schools need to provide an education focused on reading, math, science and true social studies, free from political and social agendas. All children should have access to a world-class education.

Anthony LaBruna: No response.

Are you in favor of the CO2 pipelines being proposed right now that would pass through portions of the district? Why or why not?

LE: The "Green New Deal" (which I disagree with) has placed Iowa's ethanol industry in a difficult situation in its future ability to sell products to some markets outside of Iowa due to carbon emission standards. This is the motivation for the pipeline projects. The CO2 pipelines are privately funded projects not public utilities and should, in no way, be allowed the use of eminent domain to complete their projects. They should be required to negotiate with landowners and if an agreement can't be reached, then they will have to come up with alternative routes.

AL: No response.

With the U.S. Supreme Court poised to overturn the Roe v. Wade decision, do you think the Iowa Legislature should impose further restrictions on abortions if that decision is indeed overturned? If yes, what? If no, why?

LE: I believe that life begins at conception and that the rights of all life, from conception to natural death, should be protected.

If Roe v. Wade is overturned, the Iowa Legislature should work to ensure that Iowa becomes a sanctuary for the unborn. Even if Roe v. Wade is not overturned, the Legislature should work to impose further restrictions on abortions, and ensure that no tax dollars go to abortion clinics in our state. Work to amend language in the Iowa Constitution so that it cannot be interpreted that abortion is a right in our state needs to continue regardless of a U.S. Supreme Court decision.

AL: No response.

Are there any district-specific issues you'd like to address if elected? What are they and how would you like to address them?

LE: When I have had conversations with city administrators across the district, three things always come up. Workforce, affordable housing and daycare. These topics are interrelated and have an impact on rural economies.

A reduction or elimination of sales tax on building materials for new construction homes and multifamily dwellings in rural Iowa could increase access to housing that currently doesn't exist. This would create an incentive for individuals to build new homes. It would also create an incentive for developers to build spec homes and affordable rental properties.

Raising the income threshold for Child and Dependent Care tax credits would make daycare more affordable for parents. Continuing to provide wage incentives and longevity bonuses for childcare workers to recruit and retain workers. Providing incentives for schools, hospitals, and businesses to partner with local community daycare boards to provide space and share operational costs to increase access to daycare for families.

AL: No response.

Are there any statewide issues you'd like to address if elected? What are they and how would you like to address them?

LE: Meatpacker concentration needs to be addressed in our state. The four major meatpackers control the vast majority of the market in our state. The producers are forced to operate at thin margins and any increase in livestock prices are not reflective of the higher increases for the consumer. Supporting the development of smaller, regional, independent meatpackers will create competition in the industry, increasing livestock prices for the producer and controlling consumer costs, while providing a regional market for livestock producers.

Reforming Iowa's Certificate of Need will help expand access to medical services across our state, especially in rural Iowa, and control medical costs by increasing competition. The current Certificate of Need requirements in Iowa restrict the expansion or addition of medical services, and purchase of high-cost medical equipment. This limits rural Iowans' access to medical services locally, and keeps costs high for patients.

Access to mental healthcare services is extremely limited in much of rural Iowa. Wait times for treatment are often measured in weeks or months. Providing incentives to help recruit and retain mental health care workers to practice in rural Iowa needs to be a priority.

Controlling government spending and supporting tax reform efforts needs to remain a priority in the state, allowing families to keep more of their money that they can invest back into their local economies.

AL: No response.

Is there anything the Legislature can do that's not already being done to strengthen rural economies and support small businesses? If so, what and how?

LE: Increasing access to rural broadband will help strengthen our rural economy, support existing small businesses and support innovative small business start-ups. The state needs to continue financial support for the Rural Iowa Broadband Grant Program with the continued goal of universal access to broadband access for all Iowans by 2025, prioritizing smaller regional telecommunication companies.

AL: No response.

Is there anything else you'd like to add?

LE: Northwest Iowa is the best place to live, work and raise a family. As a life-long Iowan and resident of northwest Iowa I not only have a great appreciation for our quality of life, but I understand the struggles that we all face. I was raised in northwest Iowa and I chose to raise my family here as well, so that my kids would enjoy that same quality of life that my wife and I enjoyed when we were kids.

I have spent a majority of my career in education in Northwest Iowa. I have also had the good fortune to do volunteer work in rural economic development attracting business and industry to our area, helping to start daycares in northwest Iowa communities, starting local foundation boards to support school and community projects and leading local civic organizations.

I have been showing up for northwest Iowa my entire life and I will continue to work for northwest Iowa in the Iowa Senate.

AL: No response.