As evidenced by the ongoing legislative session that will not end due to some House Republicans refusing to support allowing Iowa families to enjoy the freedom that comes with Education Savings Accounts, the June primary elections are pivotal to the state of Iowa.
They’re powerfully pivotal.
We’ll be sending out our candidate survey shortly. This survey will allow us to inform Iowans about where perspective Republican legislators stand on certain issues.
But not every primary requires a survey to be completed in order to make an endorsement.
And this is why The Iowa Standard is endorsing State Rep. Dean Fisher for Iowa House in District 53 against State Rep. Dave Maxwell.
This will be a key race as it features two current incumbents. And while both are Republicans, there are clear differences between the two candidates.
Maxwell has voted against pro-life legislation multiple times. He voted against the Protect Life Amendment. He voted against the Heartbeat bill. He voted against protecting unborn babies after 20 weeks of pregnancy.
Maxwell is also publicly opposed to Education Savings Accounts and essentially blasted the Iowa Senate’s bill for transparency in classrooms. You can watch him discuss those issues below.
“They (Education Savings Accounts) just don’t want to go away because too many people that evidently have some sort of a vested interest in it,” Maxwell said. “When it does come, it um seems like no matter how much we object it’s out there. My position hasn’t changed on that either. I don’t believe it’s right. I don’t see how we can take money from public education because public education has…”
At that point they had a technical issue. Maxwell picks back up by talking about a Senate proposal to increase transparency in education.
“Oh my, that, that really got things stirred up,” he said. “I don’t know where we’re coming off with some of these bills. I don’t see how we can — the legislature is going to have to take responsibility for a good bit of our problems keeping teachers I think if we’re going to keep harassing them and calling for more and more things.”
Fisher, on the other hand, has been a steady, reliable conservative on almost every so-called controversial issue.
Fisher has led the charge in removing gender identity from the civil rights code, which should be a legislative priority for all Republicans.
Fisher has more than earned support from conservatives for his race. And Maxwell has more than lost it.
Conservatives across the state routinely ask who the “problem” legislators are in the Iowa House who hold up good legislation, well, clearly Maxwell is one of them. It’s obvious in his voting record. It’s obvious in how he describes issues like Education Savings Accounts and transparency in the classroom.
This is one of a few races between incumbent House Republicans that could set the tone for the chamber in the coming years. It is imperative Republican voters in Iowa House District 53 get it right.
And, based on rhetoric and records, it is imperative that those voters choose Dean Fisher over Dave Maxwell.
For those who feel led, you can help support Fisher through a contribution at this link. You can also send a check to:
Dean Fisher for House
1306 290th St.
Montour, IA 50173
