Name: Jon Dunwell

Age: 58

Stay: Newton

Occupation: Pastor at Gateway Church Monroe and Director of Communications and Engagement at The Family Leader

Looking for an office: Iowa House District 38

1. Introduce yourself/Represent 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 am the pastor of Gateway Monroe Church, the director of communications and engagement at The Family Leader, and a coach for other nonprofit organizations. I have a history of community involvement in the YMCA, community boards, Meals-On-Wheels, Seniors First, Orange County Sheriff’s Office, Main Street, Rotary, Chamber of Commerce and other organizations. I currently serve as State Representative District 38 and 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 on representing Jasper County’s values, preserving our freedoms, reducing taxes with fiscal responsibility, and pursuing the priorities of Iowans.

2. Several legislative actions have affected public schools in recent years, to mixed reception from the public. Do you agree with past actions? What kind of changes do you want to see in the future? Should input from HD38 school districts enter your decision making?

Dunwell: Education continues to be a top priority for the Iowa Legislature. It comprises nearly 50% of our state budget and a significant proportion of our property taxes. Recognizing the importance of teachers, last year we made Iowa the fifth highest starting teacher salary in the nation, with the fifth lowest cost of living. We’ve also invested in educational choice for parents, ensuring every child has the 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 AEA, protecting our investments in special education, bringing greater accountability and coordination with the Department of Education, reforming pay, and giving local districts more control. We did this without cutting any funding and instead provided more dollars for students. We have also worked to protect education from radical political agendas and ensure that the government does not get between parents and their children.

I regularly attend local school board meetings and liaise with school management on issues affecting education. I created special opportunities for our school district leadership to connect with me, the chief education officer, and the governor as we moved through the AEA improvements, hearing their concerns and ideas. Our local school leadership must always be part of the discussion.

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

Dunwell: In 2018, articles began to appear predicting our current shortage of obstetricians. Reasons cited were: aging physician workforce, general shortage of health care workers, older physicians retiring early, administrative and regulatory work, medical malpractice costs, lack of residency programs, and lower rates of fertility. These problems are exacerbated in rural America.

The Iowa House has addressed and will continue to address the health care shortages we face in Iowa and across the country. We passed a law that:

• Provides loan forgiveness to physicians (including obstetricians) who make a five-year commitment to practice in Iowa.

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

• Creates one-year fellowship programs for family physicians who wish to train in OB-GYN nursing.

• Provides funding for centers of excellence for birth centers.

This is a growing problem, and the Iowa Legislature is committed to finding more solutions to ensure Iowans get the health care they need.

4. In Jasper County, a number of taxing entities challenged House File 718 and the restrictions it placed on certain taxes. How do you think lawmakers should approach a property tax system that both benefits Iowans while 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 taxes continue to be the No. 1 issue. 1 for voters. For the past several years, Iowans have struggled with rising inflation, compounded by excessive local government spending, and that reflected in property taxes. While we have provided $100 million in property tax relief, we need a simpler system that meets the needs of our counties and cities while reducing the burden on property taxpayers. I am concerned about the increasing proportion of property tax that goes to our business community.

As I continue to look for ways to reduce the burden on our cities, counties and schools, I will also advocate for a true the truth in the fiscal approach. Voters prior to any approval of proposed budgets and taxes must be mailed a individualize, clear and simple statement stating what they paid in the previous year, the proposed tax, what they will pay if approved and the schedule of public meetings. This approach places the voter directly in conversation with local elected officials about their specific fiscal situation, empowering them to have a voice on local priorities and taxes.

5. While there are certainly unanimous or near-unanimous decisions that occur in the Legislature, so often it seems that the most talked about/impactful bills are decided by party majorities. Do you think representative government ends after the election day result? 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) in every decision.

• Contributions from my constituents. All input is appreciated to shape my understanding and perspective, whether it comes from a Democrat, Republican, or non-partisan. No problem can be truly understood without community input.

• Legislative consensus. Each bill requires the approval of 51 members of the House, 26 members of the Senate and the governor. Legislature is always about teamwork and is not for the “lone log”.

6. Adding unrelated clauses or provisions to bills is practiced by lawmakers at both the state and federal levels, but social media makes these actions more widely known and perhaps not as popular. What do you think about riders and their use in the Iowa Legislature? When are they appropriate?

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

7. What are the most important issues for you in the next two years of this mandate? Are there issues in Iowa that you think deserve more attention?

Dunwell: • Property tax reform.

• Funding for full-day 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.

• Paid correctional officers and status.

Issues that deserve more attention:

• Iowa Corrections.

• Policies to strengthen and support families.

8. Any final comments you would like to make to the voters?

Dunwell: In recent years, we’ve cut income taxes, eliminated pension income taxes, provided $100 million in property tax relief, protected girls’ sports, simplified state government, and exercised fiscal restraint , strengthening our balance sheet and Iowa’s economy while providing greater measure. opportunities to invest in Iowa priorities. Thank you for allowing me to represent you and I humbly ask for your vote on November 5th.