Iowa House District 38 Candidate Q&A: Jon Dunwell

Name: Jon Dunwell

Age: 58

Residence: Newton

Occupation: Pastor at Gateway Church Monroe and director of outreach and engagement at The Family Leader

Office seeking: Iowa House District 38

1. Introduce/Reintroduce yourself to voters and explain why you are running.

Dunwell: My name is Jon Dunwell. My wife, Christie, and I have been married for 34 years and live in Newton with our two boys, Addison (23) and Bryce (20). I’m the pastor of Gateway Church Monroe, the director of outreach and engagement at The Family Leader, and a coach for other nonprofits. I have a history of community involvement with the YMCA, community councils, Meals-On-Wheels, Seniors First, Orange County Sheriff’s Office, Main Street, Rotary, Chamber of Commerce and other organizations. I currently serve as the District 38 state representative and as an assistant majority leader in the Iowa House.

I bring my passion, diverse experience and leadership to Jasper County to address its current challenges and create future opportunities. I will continue to focus upon representing Jasper County’s values, preserving our freedoms, cutting taxes with fiscal responsibility and pursuing the priorities of Iowans.

2. Several legislative actions have impacted public schools over the past few years, to mixed reception from the public. Do you agree with past action? What sorts of changes do you want to see in the future? Should input from HD38 school districts go into your decision making?

Dunwell: Education continues to be a top priority of the Iowa Legislature. It comprises almost 50 percent of our state budget and a significant proportion of property taxes. Recognizing the importance of teachers, last year we made Iowa the fifth highest starting teacher pay in the nation with the fifth lowest cost of living. We’ve also invested in educational choice for parents, ensuring each child their optimal learning environment through open enrollment, charter schools and education savings accounts.

Bringing efficiency, focus and accountability to government is a crucial role of legislative leadership. Last year we made improvements to our AEAs, protecting our investment in special education, bringing greater accountability and coordination with the Department of Education, reforming salaries and giving local districts more control. We did this without reducing any funding and instead provided more dollars for students. We also have worked to protect education from radical political agendas and ensuring government doesn’t get between parents and their children.

I regularly attend my local school board meetings and connect with school leadership around issues impacting education. We created special opportunities for our school district leadership to connect with myself, the director of education and the governor as we walked through AEA improvements, hearing their concerns and ideas. Our local school leadership always needs to be part of the discussion.

3. Iowa ranks last among 52 states and territories for OB-GYN physicians per capita, and a number of rural hospitals — including Newton’s — have closed their birthing units. How should Iowa lawmakers respond to this problem? How are smaller communities supposed to thrive in this environment?

Dunwell: Back in 2018, articles began to surface predicting our current shortage of OB-GYNs. Reasons cited were: An aging physician workforce, overall healthcare worker shortage, older physicians retiring earlier, administration and regulatory work, medical malpractice costs, lack of residency programs and lower fertility rates. These issues are exacerbated in rural America.

The Iowa House has and will continue to address the healthcare shortages we face in Iowa and across the country. We have enacted legislation that:

• Provides loan forgiveness to doctors (including OB-GYNs) who make a five-year commitment to practice in Iowa.

• Protects doctors & hospitals from excessive lawsuits (tort reform).

• Creates one-year fellowship programs for family doctors who desire training in OB-GYN healthcare.

• Provides funding for centers of excellence for birthing centers.

This is a growing issue and the Iowa Legislature is committed to finding more solutions to ensure Iowans are getting the healthcare they need.

4. In Jasper County, a number of taxing entities have taken issue with House File 718 and the restrictions it has put on certain levies. How do you feel lawmakers should approach the property tax system that both benefits Iowans while also allowing cities and counties to grow naturally?

Dunwell: I’ve had the privilege of meeting thousands of Jasper County residents at their doorsteps, and property tax continues to be the No. 1 issue for voters. Over the past few years Iowans have struggled with rising inflation worsened by excessive local government spending, and it is reflected in property taxes. Though we have provided $100 million in property tax relief, we need a simpler system that meets the needs of our counties and cities while lessening the burden on property taxpayers. I am concerned about the growing proportion of property tax falling upon our business community.

As I continue to look for ways to lower the burden placed on our cities, counties and schools, I will also advocate for a true truth in taxation approach. Voters prior to any approval of budgets and proposed levies need to be mailed an individualized, clear and simple statement stating what they paid in the previous year, the proposed levy, what they will pay if approved and the schedule of public meetings. This approach places the voter directly in conversation with their local elected leaders regarding their specific tax situation, empowering their voice on local priorities and taxes.

5. While there are certainly unanimous or near-unanimous decisions that happen in the Legislature, so often it seems like the most talked about/impactful bills are decided by party majorities. Do you think representative government ends after the result on Election Day? How important is resident feedback to you?

Dunwell: Three key components go into every decision. I bring:

• All that I am (my experiences, beliefs and perspectives) to every decision.

• Input from my constituents. All input is valued in shaping my understanding and perspective, no matter if it’s coming from a Democrat, Republican or no party constituent. No issue can truly be understood without community input.

• Legislative consensus. Every bill requires the approval of 51 House members, 26 Senate members and the Governor to pass. The legislature is always about teamwork and is not for the “lone ranger.”

6. Adding riders or unrelated provisions in bills is practiced by lawmakers in both the state and federal level, but social media is making these actions more well known and perhaps not quite as popular. How do you feel about riders and their use in the Iowa Legislature? When are they appropriate?

Dunwell: Our Iowa Constitution requires a single subject for each bill and riders are not a problem in the Iowa Legislature. I discourage the practice of adding riders.

7. What issues are most important to you for the next two years of this term? Are there any issues in Iowa you feel deserve more attention?

Dunwell: • Property tax reform.

• Full-day funding for preschool for families at 185 percent of poverty.

• Eminent domain and utility board commission update.

• Innovation, creativity and greater operational sharing for rural schools.

• Online protection for minors.

• School funding formula.

• Correctional officers pay and status.

Issues that deserve more attention:

• Iowa Corrections.

• Policies strengthening and supporting families.

8. Any final comments you’d like to make to voters?

Dunwell: Over the last number of years we have lowered income tax, eliminated taxes on retirement income, provided $100 million in property tax relief, protected girls sports, streamlined state government and exercised fiscal restraint, strengthening our balance sheet and the Iowa economy, while providing greater opportunities to invest in Iowa’s priorities. Thank you for allowing me to represent you and I humbly ask for your vote on Nov. 5.