Election Day is just a few days from now, and we’re taking a look at the two candidates running for Iowa Senate District 10.

Republican incumbent Jake Chapman is running for the office he’s held since 2013. Democratic challenger Warren Varley is opposing Chapman on the ballot. Chapman is an EMT and owns a private ambulance service business. Chapman tells Raccoon Valley Radio the work he’s done over the last four years is evident in the current COVID-19 pandemic, “Four years ago we were facing a $113 million budget shortfall. Because of the policies we enacted, doing what everyday Iowans do, we tightened our belt and balanced our budget. We took that shortfall and refilled our economic emergency funds, something I’m very proud of. Our emergency funds are completely full, with nearly $800 million dollars. Additionally, we are now looking at a financial surplus of money when we return in January. Because of our prudent budgetary practices, Iowa was just recognized as having the most resilient budget with COVID in the entire country.”

Varley co-owns a Stuart-based law firm and is a farmer. He previously ran for State House District 20 in 2018, and his father Andrew served in the House of Representatives for 12 years. Varley tells Raccoon Valley Radio he hopes to make an impact on the State’s public school system, “Public education is probably the most important thing state government does; it’s the key to our future. When Karen and I finished school, we wanted to raise our children in Iowa in part because we have the best schools in the country, but that’s threatened now. We have school districts that can’t even get one qualified applicant to fill important teaching positions. We have to give teachers back their full collective bargaining rights, and we have to fund education at a level that catches up with inflation. We have to use public funds for public schools if we want to stay competitive and remain prosperous on the world stage.”

District 10 represents all of Adair and Guthrie, most of Dallas, and portions of Cass and Polk counties. Click here to hear more from either candidate, as well as all of the other contested races in Dallas County with the Special Edition Meet the Candidates In-Depth News Magazine.