Iowa is holding elections, including for school boards and mayoral offices, on Nov. 7, 2023. A number of candidates running in these elections completed Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection survey. These survey responses allow voters to hear directly from candidates about what motivates them to run for office.
Below is a selection of responses from the candidates who filled out the survey as of Oct. 24. To read each candidate’s full responses, click his or her name at the bottom of the article.
Josh Mandelbaum (nonpartisan), currently serving as a member of the Des Moines City Council representing Ward III, is running for mayor of Des Moines, and the general election is on Nov. 7. Here’s how Mandelbaum responded to the question: What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?
- “Affordable housing that meets everyone’s needs
- Strong transit that connects people to jobs and services
- Local climate solutions and clean water
- Safe and accessible streets
- Mental health services to respond to public safety calls
- Reproductive freedom and LGBTQ+ rights.”
Click here to read the rest of Mandelbaum’s answers.
Victoria Henderson Weber (nonpartisan) is running for Des Moines Public Schools School Board District 3, and the general election is on Nov. 7. Here’s how Weber responded to the question: What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?
“Equitable Education: equitable allocation of resources to schools in underserved communities …
Community-Aligned Engagement: creating policies that prioritize community input in decision-making processes …
Student Outcomes: data-driven decision-making to track and improve outcomes …
Diversity and Inclusion: promoting diversity among teachers and staff, addressing issues of bias and discrimination in education …
Early childhood education: ensuring that all children have access to high-quality pre-K programs that prepare them for success in school and life.”
Click here to read the rest of Weber’s answers.
If you’re an Iowa candidate or incumbent, click here to take the survey. The survey contains over 30 questions, and you can choose the ones you feel will best represent your views to voters. If you complete the survey, a box with your answers will display on your Ballotpedia profile. Your responses will also populate the information that appears in our mobile app, My Vote Ballotpedia.
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