Iowa House of Representatives District 38 candidate surveys, 2022

Elections in Iowa, 2022

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This article shows responses from candidates in the 2022 election for Iowa House of Representatives District 38 who completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey.

• Click here to see candidates and election results.
• Click here to see Candidate Connection survey responses.

Candidates and election results

General election

General election for Iowa House of Representatives District 38

Incumbent Jon Dunwell defeated Erick Zehr and Michael Wood in the general election for Iowa House of Representatives District 38 on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Jon Dunwell (R)	58.3	7,158
		Erick Zehr (D)	37.6	4,612
	Submit photo	Michael Wood (L)	4.1	503
		Other/Write-in votes	0.0	3

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 12,276
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey responses

Ballotpedia asks all federal, state, and local candidates to complete a survey and share what motivates them on political and personal levels. The section below shows responses from candidates in this race who completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Survey responses from candidates in this race

Click on a candidate's name to visit their Ballotpedia page.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

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Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Erick Zehr (D)

I believe deeply in public service and the importance of faithfully representing my district.  Our politics have become so partisan and our representatives so radical that we are losing the thread: our duty to responsibly govern.

Public schools are foundational to the promise of America. Especially here in our state, as Iowa used to be synonymous with great public education. Using taxpayer dollars used to send select kids to private schools is unconscionable and spells disaster for the fabric of our education system.

Global conflicts only heighten the importance of US energy independence.  Renewable energy is the future and massive business opportunities are available to those who get there first. The 2020's are the decade that will decide the fate of our environment, and we need to remember how much we depend on its stability when we make economic and policy decisions.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Erick Zehr (D)

I am running for Iowa House to represent all the people of Jasper County and ensure no voice is left unheard.  We need sustainable solutions to today's challenges, not politically expedient ones that come at the cost of the people.  I am fighting for strong public schools, responsible health care access and protections, clean energy solutions, and above all else, protecting voting rights and preserving our democracy.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Erick Zehr (D)

Wisdom & empathy. Empathy to best understand the needs of your district and Wisdom to best solve the challenge of delivering for them.

What legacy would you like to leave?

Erick Zehr (D)

To be a better type of politician. I want my legacy to be one of service and growth. Someone who served his people faithfully, and led them through challenges with honesty and transparency, qualities seen as handicaps in politics.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

Erick Zehr (D)

Not the first historical event I experienced, but the one I remember most vividly was September 11th. I was in high school at the time, and I remember there being such confusion over what was happening and why. Classes all day were spent watching the news, trying to learn and make sense of everything. I distinctly remember the disorienting feeling of having your worldview shaken and your priorities realigned. There are so many important lessons from 9/11, such as the importance of channeling our frustration and emotions into positive solutions, not just expedient ones.

What is your favorite book? Why?

Erick Zehr (D)

The Death of Ivan Ilych by Leo Tolstoy. My favorite class in college was Perspectives on Death & Dying, as I found reflections on death and my own mortality to be enlightening for the value of my remaining life and the importance of living it with purpose and joy. Tolstoy tells the story of a man who spent his life concerning himself with the facades of status and ignoring his family (among other things). It should serve as a cautionary tale to our greed-consumed world... in the moments before our death, will we be at peace, filled with moments of a life well-lived... or will the monetary gains we prioritized simply pass on to someone else?

A great man and family friend gave us the gift of this wonderful quote...

"Have a great day on purpose."

- Steve McDermott

What do you perceive to be your state's greatest challenges over the next decade?

Erick Zehr (D)

Modernization and supporting rural ways of life in a fast-evolving world economy. Iowa has such great people and character, and it would be a tragedy to lose the values and ethos of living a rural lifestyle. We need to find ways to bring access and efficiency to our rural communities through infrastructure, reducing the need for people to move into more urban areas and helping them keep up with progress.

Do you believe that it’s beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics?

Erick Zehr (D)

Yes and no. The commonly held belief compares the benefits of having a familiarity with the system against the value of a fresh perspective and recent experiences in their jobs and communities. However, I think there is something more important to consider which is the propensity for politicians to get familiar with the inner workings of the job and how to "play the game", and forget their responsibility to the people that sent them there. Governance is complicated and complex, and experience can help those who have their priorities set correctly. The opposite is true for "experienced" self-serving politicians.

Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?

Erick Zehr (D)

Of course. With so many diverse viewpoints and positions, rare is the issue where everybody gets exactly what they want. What is critical is finding the right balance between delivering for your constituents, and compromising with others.

See also

More about these elections:

• Iowa House of Representatives elections, 2022

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