DEBATE RECAP: Breckenridge and Dunwell talk pandemic, economy, abortion

Editor’s note: The following is part one of a of two-part story recapping some of the highlights of the Oct. 22 debates between candidates for the Jasper County Supervisor and Iowa House District 29 seats.

Apart from all the issues surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, the candidates running for representative of Iowa House District 29 shared their views on social justice and law enforcement, sanctuary cities, gun rights and abortion, among others, during an Oct. 22 debate.

Both Rep. Wes Breckenridge, D-Newton, and Republican candidate Jon Dunwell participated in a socially distanced debate hosted by KCOB and Newton News. Held inside the E.J.H. Beard Administration Center, this forum was broadcasted by the Cardinal TV crew over radio and on Facebook Live.

COVID-19 pandemic and other efforts to support public health

Much like the rest of the country, Iowa is still trying to manage the COVID-19 pandemic, which became even more difficult after the derecho. When asked if he supports public health efforts in the community, Dunwell said, “Absolutely.” The pandemic has been “a life-changing experience for all of us.”

However, Dunwell pointed out there are a few things people should keep in mind as they look to move forward. For instance, legislators need to make sure they’re “opening up the economy,” because it has an impact on people’s lives, he said. Iowans also need to practice safe, healthy habits and respect health decisions.

“We need to make sure we recognize that we can’t just look for single solutions to answer all of our questions in regards to what helped defeat this pandemic,” Dunwell said. “One of the things I appreciate about our governor is her ability to adjust with where we find ourselves, and adjust a plan that’s specific for Iowa.”

Dunwell said Jasper County needs a “focused protection” for the medically vulnerable, referencing the outbreaks in Newton’s senior living facilities. He’s also concerned people believe a mask or a vaccine is the answer to everything. Even when those things are practiced, he said, people should remain cautious.

Breckenridge agreed 2020 has been a challenging year for a lot of people. The pandemic is personal to him, especially, because his father was diagnosed with COVID-19. His father survived, Breckenridge also lamented that his father lost at least five friends from the virus.

“What can we do as a community to make sure we’re doing all we can to mitigate the spread? So each day I go through and try to keep people safe and informed. I go through the stats (and) keep people informed on what’s happening,” Breckenridge said.

Moving forward, Breckenridge stressed providing local control to counties and cities to be able to make those community health decisions. Depending on their positivity rates, Breckenridge suggested cities and counties could decide “mask or no mask,” presumably a mask mandate.

Revitalizing Iowa’s economy post-pandemic

Breckenridge remembered when the state first shut down businesses in March. He remembered getting several phone calls from business owners needing to connect to valuable resources. One of the first things legislators need to do, he said, is to respond well and ensure businesses have funds to stay open.

Displaced workers also need assistance, too. Breckenridge suggested attention still needs to be given to job growth and business growth, noting most new jobs come from new businesses and expanding businesses. Entrepreneurs need enticed and incentivized to come to Newton, he said.

“We have the perfect location with (the) I-80 corridor, with the airport, with the rail yard — we have the perfect opportunity to give incentives,” Breckenridge said. “We want to make sure we have good schools, good housing and quality of life (and) a good workforce here. Bring those entrepreneurs. Give them incentives.”

Dunwell said “nothing is probably more important” than getting new jobs. Citing “recent stats,” he claimed Iowa ranks No. 5 for the lowest unemployment across the nation. Currently, he said there about “76,000 Iowans who are unemployed at this point,” so the state is seeing some improvement.

Still, Dunwell said the sooner Iowa can get back to fully opening up the economy, the better people will be “across the board.” Citing a recent column printed in the Newton News about business owner Dawn Bleeker’s struggles keeping the movie theater open, Dunwell noted the economy outside Iowa is affected, too.

“What’s impacting them? It’s not necessarily people coming to the movie theater, it’s the fact that the major movie theaters across the nation are closed, which impacts, for example, the Motion Picture Association or motion picture companies in putting out releases,” he said. “… It extends even beyond Iowa.”

Dunwell suggested the economy needs to open nationwide. Pandemic or not, he added, growing the economy the important to Iowa. From his downtown office, Dunwell said he sees “tremendous opportunity” in the business community, adding he looks forward to engaging with local leaders to brainstorm ideas.

Will the message of social justice demonstrations fall on deaf ears?

When asked how the legislature can address social justice issues, especially for people of color living in Iowa, Breckenridge noted it is something that is “seen across the nation.” From a statehouse level, Breckenridge looks at what can be done to improved relationships between people of color and law enforcement.

Breckenridge, a former police officer, recommended expanding the statehouse’s minority impact statement and what that evaluates when it comes to legislation moving forward. Iowa legislation should go through that similar process of finding out what impact it could have on people of color, he said.

“I also believe we need to make sure our community leaders are continuing to reach out to the minority communities on a regular basis and have relationships and conversations with them to make positive change,” Breckenridge said. “… I really see some good things going, some communication happening.”

Dunwell recalled spending 25 years of his life “working in an underserved community in Orlando,” which he said a majority were non-White Anglo. This topic, he added, is “near and dear” to his heart. Some of the things that need done are “very basic,” Dunwell said.

“And that is: to seek, to hear and to learn and to really try to understand the best that we can,” he said. “It’s one of the reasons why — when we had the different displays out here … even in Newton — I chose to participate. I chose to be apart of it so I could listen, so I could hear, so I could try to gain a difference perspective.”

But, yet, Dunwell is concerned about “symbolic actions.” There’s been a lot of pain that’s been expressed, he said, and much of that burden has been put upon the shoulders of law enforcement. Dunwell said these are “community issues that call for community solutions” and are not just solely resting on “one entity.”

Dunwell said, “I really believe it’s about learning, listening and adapting and continuing to engage, and also coming up with solutions involving other members of the community actually in the implementation of those solutions.”

To support or not support sanctuary cities

By definition, a sanctuary city is a municipality, county or state that protects undocumented immigrants from deportation, despite federal immigration law. Per America’s Voice, an immigration reform group, says sanctuary cities limit their cooperation with federal immigration enforcement agents in order to protect “low-priority immigrants from deportation,” but also turning over those who have committed serious crimes.

Dunwell does not support sanctuary cities, recognizing illegal immigration “is a problem” in the United States. The word “illegal” is what gives him the most concern, explaining that he has nothing against immigration and said it’s a “wonderful thing for our country” and state.

“But I do not support sanctuary cities,” he said. “It’s just another way to violate the law and I think we need to make sure we’re not supporting the creation of immigration cities.”

Breckenridge said it was interesting this question came up since he “sat on the (sanctuary city) bill” that went through the Iowa Legislature. Although he did not explicitly say he was for or against sanctuary cities, he brought attention to the concept behind that particular bill.

One of the issues when the piece of legislation was coming forward was the idea it would take away money from law enforcement.

“And that, to me, is sending the wrong message,” Breckenridge said. “You have cities and counties that may be changing their policy or their direction when it comes to sanctuary cities, but you’re holding law enforcement accountable. And it’s not in their hands to make that determination at the city council level.”

Breckenridge suggested engaging law enforcement, people of color and undocumented individuals have a discussion about how to address this issue.

“It’s sad that we don’t engage when the legislation is put together and make sure we’re communicating with those city leaders, with law enforcement and with everybody there for those decisions,” Breckenridge said.

Both share their perspectives on gun rights

One submitted question asked if the candidates support banning or buyback of assault weapons, semi-automatic rifles or pistols, and if citizens have a legal right to carry firearms in public. Breckenridge said he’s a concealed carry permit holder and is “not going to take somebody’s guns away.”

From his experience and his 27 years in law enforcement, Breckenridge said he stands for his right to keep and bear arms, but also wants to be “safe and responsible.” Moving forward, Breckenridge said laws passed can maintain both of those aspects. Dunwell said he and Breckenridge disagree on this topic.

Touting his endorsement from the National Rifle Association’s political action committee (NRA-PVF), Dunwell was given the “highest rating they possibly could,” whereas Breckenridge received the lowest rating. According to the NRA-PVF website, no Democrat running for an Iowa House seat has received an endorsement from the largely conservative group.

But Dunwell speculated the reason why Breckenridge received the lowest rating is because of his voting record.

“Bills that have come before the Iowa Legislature in connection with the Second Amendment,” he said. “He voted against adding the Second Amendment — that clause — to our Iowa Constitution. He voted against a recent bill last year that would have prevented cities from passing (preemption) laws more stricter than state laws.”

Breckenridge has a record for talking about the Second Amendment, but his voting record, Dunwell claimed, is voting against it. Dunwell is a “firm believer” of getting the Second Amendment as part of the Iowa Constitution, which has another year to go through that process.

Do the candidates have the same thoughts on abortion?

Dunwell is strongly “pro-life” and believes “life needs to be preserved.” The Republican candidate said he doesn’t like the term “pro-choice,” explaining that “if it is nothing more than non-life, a piece of tissue, then by all means it’s a choice.” But to Dunwell, it’s a life.

“It’s a life than can be seen in a sonogram and it’s a life that should be cherished and preserved,” Dunwell said. “I believe life begins at conception. And I think as we continue to advance and we continue to see what medicine shares, I think you’re going to continue to see … that is life, that’s when life begins.”

Dunwell said his position is something he will not compromise on. Breckenridge said his personal belief is he doesn’t want to see someone have an abortion, speculating it’s probably one of the most “challenging, heart-wrenching, difficult decisions” a woman and a family is ever going to have to make.

Even for circumstances involving medical conditions with mother or child, rape or incest, Breckenridge acknowledges it would still be a difficult decision. However, he does not believe the state or government or legislator should be making the medical decisions for the woman or family.

“As I look at it is, we (Breckenridge and Dunwell) see things the same way but have a different approach of dealing with it,” Breckenridge said. “We don’t want to see someone have an abortion. One approach is: let’s just make it illegal. Another approach is: make it unnecessary.”

One of the things to look at when making it unnecessary is investing in the mother and family and the “core structure” to make sure the support is in place for education and awareness for adoption and contraception. These aspects, Breckenridge said, play huge factors in reducing unintended pregnancies.

“But, again, simply making something illegal isn’t going to make it go away,” Breckenridge said. “It may move to another state, another town, another area. If you make it unnecessary, you are supporting the woman (and) the family in making those decisions.”

Contact Christopher Braunschweig at 641-792-3121 ext 6560 or cbraunschweig@newtondailynews.com