Urbandale School Board member Judy Downs wears multiple hats. Obviously one is as a member of the Urbandale School Board. But she was also announced on July 27 as part of the New Iowa Project Leadership Team. Downs was identified as a co-founder and co-chair of data and benchmarking.
Downs either is or was the executive director of Polk County Democrats as well.
The Iowa Standard has already highlighted Downs previously.
HYPOCRITE ALERT: Urbandale Board Member Downs Offers Lesson In Hypocrisy
Or I guess, twice…
New Iowa Project is also a far-left group. When Iowa healthcare workers rallied outside of Mercy against vaccine mandates, New Iowa Project said:
“Never forget that we’re fighting against a party made up of anti-vaxxers and insurrectionists. Sometimes, they’re both.”
The group also noted its work on local elections is “even more important now that the Republican Party has openly embraced antivaxxerism.”
Considering Downs is a school board candidate in one of those local elections, it would be interesting to know how much “work” New Iowa Project is doing on her behalf. The group proudly proclaims they are working to build a “bluer Iowa” over the next decade using the Stacey Abrams model from Georgia.
“We focus on voter registration, turnout, education and protection. We are unapologetically grassroots and we’re not ready to throw in the towel.”
Downs also has deep roots with the Polk County Democrats, who have routinely taken shots at school board candidates running for nonpartisan school board seats across the Des Moines metro area.
For instance, the Polk County Democrats took aim at the Warriors and Wolves United for Waukee.
“Although the group claims to be nonpartisan, the four candidates are registered Republicans with extreme views about vaccinations, masking and our schools…Please share to help stop these extremists from taking over the Waukee School Board.”
For the record, it is fair to question exactly who the “extremists” are.
She also praised the National Association of School Boards when it sent a letter about parents being domestic terrorists.
Downs also celebrated Joe Biden’s promise of an executive order to require employers with 100 or more employees to implement vaccine mandates.
All of that said, one has to wonder if Downs being on the Urbandale School Board while simultaneously being deeply involved in groups that involve themselves in local school board elections isn’t a conflict of interest.
