Tracy Ehlert will face challenger Barclay Woerner in the Iowa House District 79 race

The Democratic incumbent said she was focused on growing the state’s workforce by investing more in child care and public schools, while the Republican challenger said she was focused on further cutting taxes.

Linn County Republicans nominated Barclay Woerner as their candidate this summer Iowa House District 79 in the November 5 elections.

The district covers the northwestern Cedar Rapids area and is represented by Democrat Tracy Ehlert. Ehlert, an early childhood teacher and business owner, is seeking re-election to a fourth term.

Tracy Ehlert

Ehlert told The Gazette she is running to raise wages and benefits for working Iowans, support good-paying jobs and increase access to affordable health care in the state, especially for Iowans battling cancer.

Ehlert, 46, was diagnosed with breast cancer last year and underwent treatment during the 2023 and 2024 legislative sessions.

She said she is also trying to increase state investment in public K-12 schools, “making sure we focus on our youngest students and support early childhood education as well.”

“While I want to be good stewards of my tax dollars, there are some areas that require more investment,” Ehlert – he wrote in the candidate questionnaire published in The Gazette..

“Families are spending the equivalent of college tuition to pay for child care for children who can actually find a place for their child,” Ehlert said. “Many families are still left without care. We must continue to address child care challenges, and that will require more funding.”

Additionally, class sizes are too large and Iowa schools are struggling with shortages of bus drivers and paraeducators due to low wages, Ehlert wrote. College tuition costs are also rising, impacting Iowa students who want to stay after graduation.

“When schools are adequately funded, they will be better able to invest in the children they serve,” she said, adding that lawmakers must be careful in setting curriculum standards and use curricula that are “science-based, not program-driven.”

Iowa also lacks a comprehensive children’s mental health system, which, despite initial efforts to create one, has never been fully funded. The current system is plagued by problems such as limited providers, facilities and long waiting lists, which impact children and families, Ehlert said.

“Iowa children and their families deserve a better system,” she wrote.

Ehlert has stated that she opposes restrictions on abortion and argues that women should be able to make their own health care decisions. She was also hesitant to support a total ban on the use of portable mobile devices while driving, without knowing the exact regulations.

Tracy Ehlert

Age: 46

City of residence: Cedar Rapids

Profession: early childhood educator and small business owner who runs B2K Learning Center & Consulting

Previous political office: Iowa House

Barclay Woerner

Woerner ran unsuccessfully for the Cedar Rapids school board in 2021 and 2023. He received the support of Moms for Liberty-Linn County, a conservative political organization that opposes school programs that refer to LGBTQ+ rights and racial and ethnic discrimination in the United States.

Southern Poverty Law Centercivil rights organization last year described the national nonprofit as an “extremist” coalition of “far-right, anti-government parents” known for “intimidating and harassing teachers and school officials.” A conservative school activist group says the label is false and defamatory.

Woerner, 53, he told The Gazette in August. seeks to lower taxes, support Iowa law enforcement and give parents a greater voice in education. He said he supports Republican lawmakers’ proposal to further reduce Iowa’s income and property taxes.

Woerner said his family and many others in the state continue to struggle with high grocery and gas prices and higher property tax bills and are looking for relief.

“I am committed to reducing the tax burden on Iowa families and finding solutions to the rising property taxes we face. “Iowans deserve to keep their hard-earned money so they can take care of their families and invest in their communities,” he said. – wrote in an article published by “Gazeta”..

Woerner did not submit a candidate questionnaire from The Gazette.

Earlier this month, a nonpartisan state panel released projections predicting: $200 million state revenue shortfall is mainly due to reductions in state income tax rates. It’s been there since May $2.4 billion unspent in the state’s general fund for the current fiscal year. The state also has another $3.7 billion, i.en Taxpayer Assistance Fund, which was created to cover potential shortfalls created by state tax cuts.

Critics say the accelerated cuts will further burden underfunded public schools and public services.

Woerner said he is also trying to give a voice to parents of students with special needs as the state’s local education agencies continue to change. Woerner, whose son has difficulty reading, said he supports the changes.

“Competition is good,” he said, adding that the AEA change provides greater transparency and accountability in how services are provided to students with disabilities and also increases teacher pay.

Woerner said in his article that he is committed to ensuring “every student has the opportunities they need to have a bright future,” whether they attend a trade school, community college, four-year university or enter the workforce after graduating from high school. school.

Barclay Woerner

Age: 53

City of residence: Cedar Rapids

Occupation: Operations Manager at Amazon Logistics

Previous political position: Ran for Cedar Rapids School Board in 2021 and 2023

Division of voters in the district

In total, there are 21,532 registered voters in Iowa House District 79, of which 6,057 are inactive. Of the active voters, 6,309 are registered as Democrats and 3,946 as Republicans. As of October 1, 108 active voters are registered as Libertarian, 5,087 are not registered as any party, and 25 are registered as other parties. Office of the Iowa Secretary of State.

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