Meet the Candidates Running for Iowa House District 41 in Ankeny

A first-term incumbent faces a general election challenger to represent Iowa House District 41, which includes northern Ankeny.

Democratic Rep. Molly Buck is seeking a second term in the Iowa House of Representatives. Republican Ryan Weldon, who previously served as chairman of the Ankeny school board, is seeking to win the seat in the November election.

To help voters, the Des Moines Register sent questions to all of the state and federal legislative candidates in Des Moines who are running for political office this year. Their answers have been lightly edited for length and clarity.

The general elections, which include various federal, legislative and local positions, will be held on November 5.

Who is Molly Buck (titular)?

Age: 54

Party: Democratic

Current city of residence: Ankeny

Education: Master of Education from Drake University

Occupation: Teacher

Political experience and civic activities: Past President of the Ankeny Education Association; Member of the Heartland AEA Advisory Board; Member of the Iowa College Student Aid Board of Directors; House Representative for District 41

Who is Ryan Weldon?

Age: 40

Party: Republican

Current city of residence: Ankeny

Education: Bachelor of Science in Christian Leadership and Management, Liberty University

Occupation: Digital Business Development Manager

Political experience and civic activities: Iowa Board of Educational Examiners; Chair, Ankeny Community School District Board of Education

What would be your main issue if you were elected?

Male: If elected to the Iowa House of Representatives, my top priority will be to fully fund our public schools and restore services to our Area Education Agencies (AEAs). Ensuring that every classroom is equipped with the resources it needs and that our AEAs can support our most vulnerable students is critical to a strong future. Investing in education not only improves individual opportunities, it strengthens our community as a whole. By prioritizing these areas, we are laying the foundation for a thriving, well-educated generation that will drive Iowa’s growth and success for years to come. Our future depends on giving every child the chance to succeed.

Weldon: As I talk to and listen to different members of the community, I realize that the economy is the number one issue in our district, so it is my number one priority. Here in Iowa, we have proven that taxpayers, not government, know best how to spend their hard-earned money and that less government intervention is better for the economy, not more. There is always room for improvement. Property taxes are one such area, for example. I am committed to finding new opportunities to improve our local economy and continue our trajectory toward prosperity.

What policies would you support to improve Iowa’s education system?

Male: For generations, Iowans have relied on strong public schools to educate their children and strengthen their communities. But we have fallen behind, and today our children are suffering and teachers are leaving. To restore our commitment to excellent public education, we must: Fully fund schools to cover rising costs and ensure every child receives a world-class education; Guarantee access to special education services for those who need them; and Prevent public funds from being diverted to private schools.

Weldon: Education is a multifaceted topic, with interconnections at every level that have implications we can see throughout society. Career readiness is a particular area of concern to me. We have made good progress in supporting our local schools, but I believe there is always room for improvement. For example, we can create more career and technical education courses with credit hours required for graduation. We can also continue to improve instructor qualifications to attract more career readiness teachers and ensure students have the opportunity to learn from experienced professionals with current industry knowledge.

What do you think Iowa’s tax policy should be? Do you think the state’s priority should be to cut taxes or to spend money on services for Iowans?

Male: Many Iowans are struggling to make ends meet because their wages don’t keep up with the rising costs of health care, groceries, child care, and utilities. Meanwhile, the wealthy and corporations are amassing more wealth, with 756 billionaires and record profits, while prices are skyrocketing. The ratio of CEO pay to workers has increased from 59-1 in 1989 to 399-1 today. We need a fair tax system that supports Iowans instead of enriching the elite. Iowa lawmakers can ensure economic stability by enshrining collective bargaining rights in the constitution, ensuring retirement security, raising the minimum wage, extending the sales tax holiday, and making child care more affordable.

Weldon: Under the leadership of fiscally conservative Republicans, Iowa has proven that the foundation of any sound tax policy is a sensible budget and disciplined spending. I support current efforts to reduce the tax burden and return taxpayer dollars, especially at a time when Iowans are struggling to put food on the table and make ends meet due to high inflation.

What policies would you support to improve school safety in Iowa?

Male: Iowans overwhelmingly support common-sense gun laws to protect families and children, at school and beyond. Responsible gun safety measures, endorsed by gun owners and law enforcement, have proven to reduce crime and improve safety. Instead of arming teachers, we should focus on practical solutions to ensure safety: improving school security infrastructure, requiring background checks for gun purchases, investing in mental health programs, implementing extreme risk protection orders to limit access to firearms for at-risk individuals, and promoting safe storage practices. These measures will better protect our communities and improve overall safety.

Weldon: Every school district faces the challenge of keeping students and staff safe on a daily basis. Fundamentally, I believe we need to do a better job of supporting mental health by connecting families with resources and working with parents to engage with students to prevent them from resorting to violence. Additionally, we can support districts by investing in more safety infrastructure in and around buildings as well as digitally through cybersecurity measures.

Iowa now has a six-week abortion ban. What action do you think the Iowa Legislature should take on abortion?

Male: Everyone should have the right to make their own health care choices, including decisions about reproductive health care and abortion. Politicians should not interfere in personal decisions about creating a family. Most Iowans support reproductive freedom and believe that these private health care choices should be made between an individual, their family, and their doctor. Common-sense policies should treat cases of rape and incest with compassion.

Weldon: My goal is to prepare all children and parents for success. We can continue to prioritize supporting new parents and children by expanding access to affordable child care, protecting IVF, improving access to quality maternal health care, and improving our foster care and adoption systems.

Chris Higgins covers the eastern and northern suburbs for the Register. Contact him on [email protected] or 515-423-5146 and follow him on Twitter @chris_higgins_