House candidates face public at League forum
October 01, 2008 · Jake Krob

Those vying to replace Ro Foege in the Iowa House faced the public for the first time together Saturday. Republican Emma Nemecek, in her second race for the District 29 seat, and Democrat Nate Willems, in his first bid for office, answered the public's questions at Mount Vernon City Hall. The local League of Women Voters hosted the candidates' forum, where Willems and Nemecek told their views on issues ranging from taxes to "potty parity."

Nemecek, who with her husband Terry has lived in rural Mount Vernon for 17 years, immigrated from the Phillipines. "I chose to become a United States citizen," she said. Calling herself a conservative Republican, Nemecek said she can work with others well and is running to give back to the country.

Willems, his wife, Maggie, and their three-month-old daughter, Ava, live in Lisbon. An attorney who works in Cedar Rapids with labor unions and their members, Willems said he chose to live in Iowa despite other opportunities. He's a native of Anamosa; his wife is a Mount Vernon native. Willems said one of the reasons he's running is to "see young people link their futures with Iowa."

Keeping in touch

The two candidates were asked several questions related to their ability to work with others and how they would represent constituents.

"It's a matter of building relationships with individual legislators," Willems said in response to a question about how they would work with members of the other party.

"It's a matter of voting my conscience and in accordance with the will of the people that elected me," said Nemecek, who added that she won't vote one way or another just because of her party's stance.

Another question asked candidates about what they're doing now to learn from constituents - specifically, what they're saying when out knocking on doors.

Nemecek said she's knocked on thousands of doors and wore out seven pairs of shoes when she ran against Foege two years ago. She said she tells people she meets where she stands on the issues and seeks input about what's important to them.

Willems said he also seeks input from the people he meets, and tells them his top issues.

If elected, both candidates said they would attend and hold town hall meetings or office hours in all communities in the House District.

One question pointed to how candidates are prepared in relation to their experiences with the state legislature. Nemecek said she's observed action at the capital on numerous occasions. Willems said he spent a semester during high school paging for Gov. Terry Brandstad and in 2002 was a clerk for Rep. Foege.

Flood relief

Nemecek and Willems were asked if Gov. Culver should call a special session to deal with flood relief issues.

"Three months is long enough for these people to be on hold," Nemecek said, adding that a special session should be called.

Willems concurred, pointing out that an agreement should first be reached that this be the one issue addressed and there be specific proposals beforehand. He further added that the reality is that the cost of relief is so great that Iowa can't handle it alone and Congress needs to step in with funding.

Another flood-related question caused both candidates to respond that local officials should have control over decisions related to how to rebuild.

Education

Education was a theme of several questions.

Willems and Nemecek were asked about their stance on funding for school districts that have homeschool funding, which was cut in half this year.

Willems said cutting any program's funding in half is "quite dramatic" and he's open to any persuasion to restore it.

Nemecek said she believes in school vouchers and tax credits. She said when she and Willems were at another recent event, Willems told her "Emma, you're going to hurt public schools," to which Willems said that was part of a debate about vouchers.

It was the first in a couple of instances in which League president and moderator Abbi Swanson told the candidates that the event was a forum, not a debate.

When candidates were asked about their top legislative priorities, each listed education. Nemecek said she wants to work to make sure the state has excellent education and gets "back to basics."

Willems pointed out that 60 percent of the state budget is spent on education and Iowa needs to continue to adequately fund it. He said he's interested in ways to encourage more schools to offer advanced placement courses and in giving parents the opportunity for their children to attend school year round.

Candidates were later asked if they supported state funding for the arts.

Willems said arts in K-12 education are important to help create well-rounded students. He further added that he supports the funding for the state's cultural affairs office, and hopes desires for funding on issues like the flood doesn't harm such programs.

"I need to do more research on that," Nemecek said.

Health Care

Health care was an issue on a couple of occasions during the forum.

Candidates were asked about the state's role in dealing with the gap in health insurance.

Willems said he hopes the state can better fund Medicare and find ways to provide health insurance for "every single child," by building on the hawk-i program. He also said he supports businesses pooling insurance.

Nemecek said she understands that a concern of doctors is in the slow reimbursement of Medicare payments and that should be addressed.

On the issue of hawk-i, the program that covers children free or at a low cost, it was pointed out that there still remain 50,000 children in Iowa without health insurance.

"I think we should have a sliding fee scale," Nemecek said. She added that today anyone can walk into a hospital and be treated.

Willems said he's discussed the issue with Foege and learned that in order to get everyone covered there needs to be some requirements. He said to get everyone covered, the state "will probably have to take a similar approach" as is done with insurance for autos, which is required.

In regard to health care, candidates were asked about mental health parity.

Willems said he supports "treating mental illness on the same plane as physical illness."

"I need to do more research on that" Nemecek said.

Taxes

Nemecek and Willems were asked if they preferred a specific type of taxation.

Nemecek said she support lower property taxes, adding that Iowa has the 13th highest commercial property tax rates in the country.

Willems said he "generally supports" progressive taxes instead of regressive taxes.

'Potty parity'

Attendees laughed, but candidates answered, when asked about "potty parity," generally that there should be more restrooms in public places for women.

Willems said he understood the issue and would be open to arguments about it.

"We're looking at spending again," Nemecek said.

Prisons

A question asked candidates their views on sentencing and the like, in light of prison populations.

"I still have to do research on that," Nemecek said.

"We can't continue to build prison after prison after prison," Willems said. He added that the state should "trust in judges and their decisions."

Ethanol

Both Nemecek and Willems said they support the state's promotion of ethanol. Nemecek said such alternative fuels are good for the economy of the state. Willems agreed, adding that science has only had 20 years of working to extract energy from corn and this is "the first chapter" in this issue.

Work and unions

A question posed to candidates asked their views on Iowa as a right-to-work state.

"I will fight any attempt to change the law," Nemecek said, adding that "forced unionization is wrong."

Willems said "right to work" is a "campaign slogan" and the correct term is that Iowa is "an open shop state." He said he supports what's known as an "agency shop" state, in which those who benefit from unions have to pay their "fair share," but aren't required to join them.

"I'm really tempted to answer Nate," Nemecek responded.

Willems was later asked about an article he wrote that unionization is good because it makes the Democratic Party stronger.

Pointing out he's the Democratic candidate, Willems said, "I support the Democratic Party...I think Iowa is a better place to be when we elect Democrats to office."

Nemecek responded that it should be an individual's choice to join a union or not.

Abortion, guns, immigration

Hot-button issues that questions and candidates recognized were more federally related were addressed at the forum.

Nemecek said she's "1,000 percent pro life." She added that she was assaulted as a teenager and chose to have her daughter.

Willems said the Supreme Court, through Roe v. Wade, decided the "choice is a woman's, not government" and if that did not exist he said he's pro-choice.

Candidates were also asked about the Second Amendment.

"I don't think there's a need in Iowa for new gun control laws," Willems said. He also added that in Iowa, county sheriffs have "quite a bit of discretion" with handgun permits and he believes that has worked well.

Nemecek said she was given an "A" by the National Rifle Association. "I believe in the Second Amendment," she said, adding that she is for licensing.

On the issue of immigration, Nemecek said "I want everybody to fall in line just like I did" and immigrate legally. She added that businesses also need to be held accountable if they knowingly hire illegal immigrants.

Willems said that the state's role is on the labor law end and that it's the federal government's role to enforce immigration laws.

Later, Willems was asked his position on illegal immigration as a country, not a state.

He said "it's against the law to cross the border illegally" and it's the federal government's job to enforce it. He added that for the millions of illegal immigrants here already, the federal government doesn't have the resources to deport them all and the government needs to figure out a way so that immigrants do "not have to operate in the shadows."

Nemecek said every illegal immigrant should be penalized. She said if UPS and DHL "can locate anybody," the government should be able to do the same.

Closings

In closing the forum, Willems said "I'm a person who really likes ideas" and as a representative he'll look for "new solutions" to solve issues related to education, health care, job creation and attracting and retaining young families.

If elected, he said, "I will always be inviting input."

Nemecek said she represents diversity and a different perspective. She said she believes in the principle that "a representative of the people should represent the people."

"I will make sure I hear your concerns and work on your needs," she said.