Meet the candidates running to represent Johnston, Urbandale in Iowa Senate District 22

Incumbent Republican Sen. Brad Zaun and Democrat Matt Blake are running in the Nov. 5 general election to represent Iowa Senate District 22 in Johnston and Urbandale.

Zaun has served in the Iowa Senate since 2005.

To help voters, the Des Moines Register sent questions to all federal and Des Moines area legislative candidates running for political office this year. Their answers have been lightly edited for length and clarity.

Learn More: Your Iowa Voter Guide 2024

Who is Brad Zaun? (incumbent)

Zaun declined to participate in the Register's survey.

Who is Matt Blake?

Age: 36

Party: Democratic

Where grew up: Pierre, South Dakota

Current town of residence: Urbandale

Education: Pierre High School, Bachelor of Science with degrees in history and political science from the University of South Dakota, law degree from Drake Law School

Occupation: Attorney

Political experience and civic activities: I am a member of the Iowa Army National Guard where I serve as a judge advocate (JAG) and hold the rank of major. I deployed in 2021 to Kuwait and Iraq in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. I was a member of the Urbandale City Council from 2019-2023. In addition, I've served on the Bravo Greater Des Moines board, Metro Waste Authority board, Urbandale Civil Rights Commission, and I am the past president of the Urbandale 4th of July Celebration and ran the 4th of July Parade.

What would be your top issue should you be elected?

Blake: I want to make sure the children of Iowa have the best education in the country, Iowans have the right to make their own decisions on reproductive health care, our water is clean and safe to drink, and we bring some common sense and decency back to the Iowa State Capitol.

What policies would you support to improve Iowa’s education system?

Blake: Recent education policies passed by the governor and Legislature are bad for our children, our teachers and Iowa. I would work to repeal school vouchers and book bans. I would seek to restore AEA funding and increase our general funding for schools to keep up with inflation. Additionally, I would push for policies to create new incentives to get more teachers to join the profession, expand access to early childhood education, make sure students do not go hungry during the school year or during summer break, and provide innovative solutions where teachers and parents can work together to meet the learning needs of each student.

What do you think Iowa’s tax policy should be? Do you believe the state’s priority should be on lowering rates or spending on services for Iowans?

Blake: I support a tax system that reduces the burden on Iowa’s middle class and lower income, makes sure those with resources pay their fair share, and we fully fund our commitments to our citizens. Iowa has obligations to our children, the needy, our elderly, rebuilding state infrastructure, public safety and much more. We must keep our promises and pay to support these vital services. Iowa should not be a place of crumbling roads and schools, but a premier location for anyone in the country to live.

What policies would you support to improve school safety in Iowa?

Blake: Improving school safety is an all the above strategy. It requires an expansion of our mental health system, sensible gun-control policies such as background checks and red-flag laws, and resources to schools to tackle issues with counseling of students. However, as a U.S. soldier and veteran who has taken firearms into combat zones, I do not believe we need additional firearms in schools.

Iowa's six-week “fetal heartbeat” abortion ban is now in effect. What next steps do you believe the Iowa Legislature should take when it comes to abortion?

Blake: I firmly believe in the right of Iowans to make health care decisions about their own body. The current six-week abortion ban that was passed in a special session is too extreme for Iowa. I would fight to repeal the six-week abortion ban and create sensible policies that provide guaranteed access for Iowans to make critical health care decisions without state government interfering with their personal lives.

Phillip Sitter covers the western suburbs for the Des Moines Register. Phillip can be reached via email at [email protected] or on X at @pslifeisabeauty.  

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa Legislature: Meet the candidates running in Iowa Senate District 22