There are two candidates vying for the Iowa Senate District 24 seat.

Democrat Cynthia Paschen lives in Story County with her husband Dr. John Paschen. She has volunteered for Mary Greeley Hospice for the last 22 years. She says one important issue she is running for is ensuring that the rural population has a voice in Des Moines. She points out health care, access to mental health care, funding public schools and poverty are the main problem areas in the rural communities.

“Poverty is an issue that affects rural Iowa. We’ve got food deserts, where people are having to drive 30 miles to get access to groceries. And there’s some food insecurities that has been exacerbated by the pandemic. Lots of kids in our state are going to bed hungry, and that’s not right.”

Republican candidate Jesse Green lives and farms in Webster County as a fifth generation farmer. He is a bible teacher at the Community Christain School in Fort Dodge and also serves on the Dayton Rodeo Board. He says he wants to have a flatter and simpler tax code, more competition in the meat industry and providing school choice.

“The issue to better education is not necessarily increased funding (for public schools) but rather allowing the money to follow the student. Sure everyone in Iowa currently has a choice in their child’s education, but not everyone has the resources to make that choice. Monopolies are not a healthy thing in any other sector of life, so then why would we accept a monopoly in education?”

The two candidates are challenging for the seat that was left vacant when long-time Republican Senator Jerry Behn of Boone retired.