It’s time for Southeast Iowa to invest in new voices and new leadership

Every election cycle, we are reminded of a simple truth: democracy only works when it truly represents the people it serves. Here in Southeast Iowa, we are at a crossroads. Our communities are changing — more diverse, more dynamic, and more interconnected than ever before. Yet, too often, our local and state offices do not reflect the full breadth of that diversity.

It is time for us to change that.

The challenges we face as Iowans are not abstract — they are local and deeply personal. From ensuring that our schools are well-funded and safe, to addressing rural healthcare access, to supporting small businesses and family farms, the decisions made at the city council table, the county boardroom, or the statehouse directly shape our daily lives. These decisions deserve leaders who bring a wide range of lived experiences, perspectives, and problem-solving approaches to the table.

That means it is time to encourage a new generation of candidates to step forward. Not career politicians, not the same handful of names recycled year after year, but neighbors, teachers, nurses, farmers, small business owners, and community organizers. People who understand firsthand what it means to raise families here, to juggle work and caregiving, to navigate rising costs, and to fight for opportunities that keep our young people in Iowa.

Our state is growing more diverse — in age, in background, in culture. A holistic, representative government is not only fair, it is practical. Research consistently shows that when decision-making bodies reflect the communities they serve, the outcomes are stronger, more inclusive, and more sustainable.

But this won’t happen on its own. We need to actively seek out and support those voices that have too often been left out of the conversation. If you have ever thought, “Someone like me could never run for office” — I want to tell you, you can. If you have ever wished that your council, your school board, or your state representative looked more like your neighborhood — then maybe it’s time to step forward yourself, or to encourage someone you know to take that leap.

The future of Southeast Iowa depends on it.

Let’s commit, together, to finding and lifting up candidates who will bring new energy, new ideas, and a true reflection of our communities into public service. Our democracy is stronger when it belongs to all of us.

Kasey Conrad, Mt. Pleasant