Meet the candidates: Thomas O’Donnell

[Editor’s note: The Southeast Iowa Union sent questionnaires to the local candidates running for seats in the Iowa Legislature that are up for election on Nov. 5. This is the questionnaire of Democrat Thomas O’Donnell, who is running against Republican Jeff Shipley to represent Iowa House District 87, which includes the southern half of Jefferson County including Fairfield, all of Van Buren County and the southwest corner of Henry County, including Mt. Pleasant.]

1. What issue do you feel most knowledgeable about? What's something about that issue that the average person might not know?

I’m running on protecting and strengthening our rural schools. Like all public schools, they’re under attack from far-right extremists who want to discredit a system that has raised millions of people from poverty and strengthened our democracy.

When I visit voters at their homes, I’m surprised by how few know about the private school voucher plan. They’re shocked when I tell them that two-thirds of the families sending their children to private (mostly religious) schools with taxpayer dollars already had their children in those schools – and probably didn’t need the state’s help. They’re dismayed to learn that vouchers are costing taxpayers nearly a quarter billion dollars this year and that the costs will explode as even millionaires get subsidized tuition for their children. Voters aren’t as surprised to learn that many private schools raised tuition when the voucher system was approved.

2. Can you tell us about your sources of information? When you want to learn about a political issue, where do you go to learn about it?

I consume a variety of media: Fox News, the Des Moines Register, Iowa Capital Dispatch, the Van Buren County Register and Southeast Iowa Union, National Public Radio and major daily newspapers.

I believe in evidence-based policy – relying on facts and research to identify the best path.

If the issue involves proposed legislation, I read the bills. I seek data from reliable sources, such as the U.S. Department of Agriculture or Iowa Workforce Development.

I also look for relevant peer-reviewed literature, especially on issues related to science and health.

I seek authoritative reflections on policy from a range of experts in government and policy, but ultimately I draw my own conclusions.

3. Are there any issues that you have changed your mind about? And if so, what caused you to change your mind?

After discussing care for transgender youth with my son, a social worker versed in this complex subject, I came to believe there’s a possibility that gender dysphoria is overdiagnosed in young people. But I’ve always said that children, especially adolescents, should undergo extensive psychological evaluation before they, with their doctors and families, decide on medical treatment. This was how doctors in Iowa practiced before the legislature passed a blanket ban on transgender-affirming healthcare in youths, and no Iowa physician has been accused, in lawsuits or complaints to the Iowa Board of Medical Examiners, of prematurely rushing or pushing youths into medical treatment.

4. Do you think your political party should compromise more with the other political party?

Parties should always be willing to compromise. Some things, however, can’t be negotiated, including taking rights away from particular people.

5. States often copy the policies in other states. Are there policies in other states that you wish Iowa would copy? Are there policies in Iowa that you see other states copying because of their success?

Iowa should adopt Minnesota’s policy and provide free school breakfast and lunch for all students. If we require children to attend school, we should provide meals. This would remove the stigma associated with free and reduced-cost lunches and treat all children equitably. The legislature fails to budget around $2 billion each year, sending it to reserves that already are full. It would take just a small portion of that surplus to supplement federal programs and provide meals for all students – many of whom have little to eat at home.

The state’s efforts to promote science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education have been worthy and may be a pattern for other states to follow. We need workers in these fields, but I’m also uncomfortable with the idea of education creating mere worker bees. Our main goal should be bringing up critically thinking citizens able to fully participate in democracy.

6. If you are elected or re-elected in November, what do you hope to accomplish in this next legislative session?

I expect I will be in the minority party, limiting my ability to improve Iowans’ lives. I hope I can influence debates on education, child care, nursing home inspections, housing costs, the minimum wage and cannabis legalization. We can accomplish things to help Iowans if the majority is open to good-faith discussions.

If I must choose goals, however, I want a more than 4 percent annual increase in supplemental state aid to schools. I also would push to reduce the budget-busting private school plan, or at least change it so private schools must abide by the same regulations and rules public schools follow.

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