Government : Iowa House District 84 Candidate Profile: Sara Yedlik

Many legislators prioritize their donors and fail to listen to the concerns of the voters.  I will prioritize the constituents of House District 84 (Benton County & NW/SW Linn County) and be responsive to your concerns. I served on the Board of Educational Examiners for the past 8 years since I was appointed by the governor in 2014. This experience has prepared me to work collaboratively in a bipartisan manner for the betterment of our state. My goal is to support rural Iowans, raising their voices and enhancing the lives of those in House District 84 first and foremost.

After listening to voters and community leaders, I have a thorough grasp of the priorities of our voters.  I am concerned that the recent changes to the tax code will have negative impacts on the communities of House District 84.  City leaders in my local communities are frustrated that current legislators brag about state tax cuts, but rely on cuts to city revenues to fund what they are proud of. This is a shell game, not tax reduction. 

We should invest annual budget surpluses in Iowa's future while maintaining a responsible surplus. The current $1B is excessive. We must remember that the $1B the state has, came from citizens who believed those taxes were needed to do the work of the government. A large surplus is just as irresponsible as one that is too small. I support forming a bi-partisan study committee to make recommendations on a safe, sustainable level of surplus funds.

Well-being of children and families, protecting our rural communities, and loss of local control are Iowa's three biggest issues facing our state.  I will support policies improving the ability of families to support child health and well-being with investments in nutrition and early childcare. For rural communities, I will combat job loss while protecting rural schools from funding cuts. I will resist state efforts to take control away from local officials. 

I am a married mother of two.  I live in Vinton where I grew up. My husband is a mechanic for Cedar Falls Construction. My daughter is studying agriculture business management at Hawkeye Community College and my son is a junior at Vinton-Shellsburg High School.  My family has farmed in Benton County for many generations and I intend to advocate for education, agriculture/land stewardship, healthcare, and our rural economies at the state capital.