ThePerryNews.com recently caught up with the two candidates running for the Iowa House of Representatives from District 47, which includes Perry. The candidates, Republican Carter Nordman of Dallas Center and Democrat Gary Overla of Dallas Center, answered six questions for ThePerryNews.com as a supplement to their Jefferson forum Oct. 20. Here are Overla’s answers.
TPN: Do you believe the 2020 general election was rigged and stolen from President Trump?
Overla: I do not believe that the election of 2020 was stolen, rigged or otherwise. I firmly believe that we need secure elections, however, we should not restrict access to vote in order to secure our vote. I feel that every measure available should be afforded to allow people the access to vote. That way, we can fulfill our promise of a government, “of the people, by the people and for the people.” (Abraham Lincoln)
TPN: Do you believe the June decision by the U.S. Supreme Court in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which overturned the constitutional right to abortion, was correctly decided? What is your general position on this issue? Are you satisfied with the current state of abortion law in Iowa, or would you advocate for changes to it? If so, what changes would you support in Iowa’s abortion law?
Overla: I can’t say for sure whether the decision was the correct decision or not legally. I am not trained as a lawyer. I can say that I am very much pro-life, and I don’t view abortion as a very good first option. However, having said that, I don’t believe the decision to not allow an abortion should be made by a legislature either. I feel that is a very personal decision that should be made between a woman and her health provider.
TPN: What is your opinion of President Biden’s executive order canceling a portion of student loan debt? Do you support the lawsuit Gov. Reynolds has joined with other governors that challenges the president’s action? If so, why? and if not, why not?
Overla: I think that the government’s student loan forgiveness program of up to $10,000 is sufficient. I support it. I also support the government’s decision to help farmers out with their loan forgiveness to the tune of $1.3 billion. Many would argue that these students shouldn’t be given money because they knew the risks involved when they signed those loans. I would argue that farming is a risky business and can be somewhat of a gamble. My question to Gov. Reynolds would be, “Are you going to challenge President Biden’s farm forgiveness program and put Iowa farmers in jeopardy?” If the answer is “No,” then we might want to take a good, long look at why we are treating college students differently.
TPN: Inflation is cutting into pocketbooks in the U.S. and around the world. What do you think is the cause of the current inflation? How can inflation best be brought under control?
Overla: Our current situation is caused by supply/demand strains on the economy. We are an economy that is very reliant on oil, and we cannot produce enough to satisfy our needs. I feel that the strain on our supply chain is one of the major blames to our economic woes. Many people would counter with, “Bring back the jobs that left and we’ll be better off.” Currently, our unemployment rate is 3.5%, which is roughly what it was prior to the pandemic. We would have a hard time filling those jobs. The U.S. needs to understand that we live in global economic market, and we need to work with our global trading partners, not necessarily against them. Global conflicts certainly don’t help matters much either, particularly the war in Ukraine with Russia.
TPN: Crime worries many Americans, including what seem to be the now-daily reports of mass shootings. What is your view of crime, its causes and cures? What are the main security risks to Americans, and how can they best be neutralized?
Overla: Crime is a problem, and I don’t want to blame gun owners or guns for that matter. I can’t begin to explain what the solution to this enormous problem is, but perhaps we could look to our allies of the post-industrial world and see what works for them. The rate of violent crime in Europe is a fraction of what it is here in the U.S., as well as other areas of the world.
TPN: Immigration, both legal and illegal, is a perennial issue in U.S. politics. What is your view of the current state of the question and your opinion as to what is to be done? Iowa is at full employment and still has about 70,000 open job positions. Who will occupy these jobs if not immigrants?
Overla: I feel that the U.S. needs to do something with its current system of immigration. It has proven time and again that it is not the most efficient. Most immigrants come to the U.S. seeking a better life. I know that is what my great-great-grandparents came to the U.S. for from Wales. They were looking for better lives for them and more importantly, for their children. Look at the community of Perry, a vibrant immigrant community. Can we honestly say that if we did not have a Latino population here in our midst, that we would be better off? Sure, immigration can bring with it challenges, however, I like to believe that we, as a nation of immigrants, are better served by providing for those populations of people who come here looking for opportunity.
