Shipley addresses hot topics at Rotary

MT. PLEASANT — State Rep. Jeff Shipley, campaigning in the new District 87, shared about himself and his political ideals, as well as, participated in hot topic conversations on the family unit and gun control at the Mt. Pleasant Noon Rotary Wednesday.

While many of Shipley’s talking points pertained to Fairfield and Jefferson County, he did have pleasant things to say of Mt. Pleasant as part of the new district he wishes to represent.

“I love being in Mt. Pleasant,” he said. “There are a lot of people in Fairfield that would love to have the things Mt. Pleasant has. Whether it is a prosperous business district, whether it is a school board that takes parent’s concerns very, very seriously, Mt. Pleasant has a lot of things to be thankful for that are very apparent to me.”

Shipley took the opportunity with Noon Rotary to clearly lay out his candidacy.

“Protecting freedom is the big the picture vision that if you’re a human being and you’re lucky enough to find yourself in-between the Missouri river and the Mississippi River your life and liberty, your happiness will be protected, honored, and cherished here,” he said.

“I believe human beings are meant to be free,” Shipley said. “I believe God wants us to live in freedom, and prosperity, and happiness to pass on these blessings to the next generation. It is the government’s responsibility to make sure no one’s freedom interferes with the health, liberty, or happiness of another person.”

As a legislator, Shipley believes, “We want to craft laws that create that stability in society.”

As far as his campaign is concerned, he would say that the primary focus is on protecting freedom and genuine health solutions including hospital capacity, and youth mental health.

“Our main legislative focus is genuine health solutions,” he said.

He went on to describe “flashing red lights” he sees in the community that are alarming.

“We’ve see a lot of these warning signs in the Fairfield community,” Shipley said.

He talked about a situation where a young man recently went to prison for supplying the gun that killed his friend as teens participated in increasingly risky behaviors like Russian roulette.

Shipley also addressed the Iowa Youth Survey Special Topics Report: Mental Health Findings.

This survey asks students in sixth, eighth, and 11th grades about general mental health and presence of suicidal ideation in the past twelve months.

Of 15,398 sixth-graders surveyed 4,050 answered yes to a question affirming depressive thoughts and behavior.

4,917 of 16,956 eighth-graders and 4,860 of 13,501 eleventh graders surveyed also answered in the affirmative.

Over 3,741 of these students admitted to having thoughts of wanting to kill themselves in the past 12 months.

Worse yet, 2,173 of those who had thought about suicide, made unsuccessful attempts at suicide with about 25% of those having to seek out medical attention.

These numbers do not include those who did die by suicide like the students from WACO, Fairfield, and Washington schools.

Shipley noted the COVID-19 responses to be a particular reason for youth’s mental health decline.

“Screen time is a huge deal,” he said. “I even struggle with it sometimes and I am aware of it. We need genuine human connection.”

Shipley stated that he understands that having those connections are not privileges everyone is allotted and that makes a large difference in the lives of our next generation.

Former teacher and rotary member John Freeland raised questions concerning how different family units are today versus years go.

“When I started teaching in the 60s,” Freeland said, “it was so much easier to get ahold of parents.”

“A lot of people teachers are trying to get ahold of have to work now,” Mt. Pleasant Area Chamber of Commerce Director Kristi Perry said. “My mom didn’t have to work, but now I have to work.”

“I think part of the problem is when the government starts stepping in and doing everything,” Freeland said.

Shipley took direction of the discussion.

“The America of 1950 where you could graduate high school and work a few years in a blue collar job where you would be able to make a down payment on a house that you’d be able to own outright by the time you’re in your thirties was the original American dream, but a lot of things have changed,” Shipley said.

“Government is just long term relationships,” he continued. “I want to invest in those genuine human connections.”

Another “flashing red light” Shipley addressed consisted of the hospital bed shortage.

“We wanted to preserve hospital beds in light of the pandemic,” Shipley said.

He further explained that despite the state’s best efforts, Jefferson County has seen hospital capacity continue to shrink.

One reason Shipley gave was the workforce shortage.

“It is a complicated problem that didn’t happen overnight,” Shipley said. “I want people to know we are not moving in the right direction. Hospital systems are very, very precious, therefore we have a greater responsibility to make sure we respect that system and respect those professionals.”

“Hospital services are a blessing we are not supposed to take for granted,” he said.

During a time of discussion, gun control legislation was addressed.

Former judge Mike Vance asked about Shipley’s vote against sheriffs’ abilities to control gun carrying in their counties.

“Why did that get changed? I didn’t see any checks left there.” Vance said.

“The federal background system remains in place,” Shipley said. “I want the federal government to enforce those provisions.”

“The sheriffs in this community knew who shouldn’t and should have those guns,” Vance responded. “Iowa was really fortunate to have that, because unless you’ve done something really, really wrong you can still pass that background check. You could be violent and getting in fights all the time and still pass that background check.”

“A sheriff is going to know that about somebody, but you people took that right away,” Vance continued.

As Shipley began referencing different pulling opinions in support of his vote, Vance argued against him.

Both men spoke at the same time.

“So we have polls in November and the Second Amendment will be on the polls,” Shipley said. “The proposal is to add strict scrutiny amendment lines to the Iowa Constitution, and if you don’t believe that an individual has the right to keep and bear arms on a strict scrutiny basis, I would encourage you to vote against that and we will see what the poll says.”

“I probably will vote against it,” Vance said.

“Is that fair enough, though?” Shipley asked. “We should take it to a vote?”

As Shipley wrapped up his time with Rotary he invited the members to reach out to him and have further discussions.

“These are conversations we will need to have an hour or two hours at a time,” he said.

“I believe in the philosophy of, there being a lot of important issues that we need to come together and have discussions about starting one on one, in small groups, in little bit larger groups, and having discussions in the entire community,” Shipley said even as he began his introduction of himself.

Currently, Shipley serves at the Iowa House representative for District 82, but due to redistricting this year, Shipley is running in a different district, including Mt. Pleasant, for re-election.

He serves on the information technology, local government, and labor committees.

Shipley grew up in Naperville, Illinois, and currently lives in Van Buren County with his two dogs on a rented acreage.

“I did not grow up in Iowa, and I am a little embarrassed to admit that,” Shipley said.

“I had a very privileged background, all things considered. Very standard middle class,” he said. “My dad was an engineer. My mom was a retired nurse and very involved in public school system. We ate dinner as a family and we went to church on Sunday.”

Shipley defined most of his privilege as coming from his upbringing with two parents, solid family connections, and a firm foundation of faith.

“A lot of problems can start to be helped by coming together as a family and having those strong bonds and reinforcing those family bonds regularly, if not every night, at least once a week,” he said.

He has a degree in political science from the University of Iowa and has previously spent time working with and without pay in political positions.

Shipley’s professional history also includes working in a law firm and with Iowa Wind and Solar.

On a personal note, Shipley took the time to tell endearing stories about selling sauerkraut with his friend and his participation in community activities like Octoberfest.

“My team and I believe in having fun, we believe in joy,” he said. “We believe in family friendly activities that the whole community can take part in.”

Comments: AnnaMarie.Ward@southeastiowaunion.com