My name is Deb VanderGaast, and I’m running for Iowa Senate District 41 to make Iowa a great place to live, work and raise a family again. I am a registered nurse and director of a child care center for children with special needs. I served on a work group for Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds' Childcare Task Force in 2021, am the current chairperson for the Tipton Zoning Board of Adjustments, a member of the Cedar County Democrats Central Committee for 8 years and recently joined the Tipton School District School Improvement Advisory Committee. I have also had the honor as serving as a Parent Advocate and featured speaker at the U.S. Capital for the Child Care Aware of America Day on the Hill in 2017.
For many years, I have worked behind the scenes to advocate for families, people with disabilities, and people struggling just to survive. I believe Iowa thrives when the people that live here are thriving. I pledge to serve all the people of Iowa, regardless of gender, race sexual identity, socioeconomic status, creed, abilities or political affiliation. Everybody deserves to have a voice in our government, and I strive to ensure their voices are heard.
My Top Priorities in Des Moines
· Raise the Minimum Wage in Iowa to at least $10/hr
· Support young families and Early Childhood programs
· Increase funding for our schools so Iowa’s schools will the best in the nation again
· Increase access to high quality, affordable childcare so parents of young children can return to the workforce and children enter school ready to learn
· Ensure the early childhood workforce is fairly compensated so Iowa’s children have consistent and qualified caregivers
· Restore local and school control over public health and safety decisions
· Support public health measures and vaccination programs to help Iowan’s stay safe and healthy through the pandemic
· Ensure all Iowans have access to affordable healthcare
· Increase access to and affordability of higher education to help people advance careers and to ensure Iowa’s workforce needs are met.
· Protect and advance reproductive health rights and guarantee bodily autonomy for all Iowans
· Fight for racial, social, and LGBTQ+ justice and equity
· Invest in green energy production and creating green jobs
· Invest in public infrastructure so Iowa’s highways and communities are safe and thriving
· Ensuring public safety nets are available to help hard working Iowans survive temporary setbacks
· Ensure voting rights are protected and repeal all of Iowa's voter suppression laws
· Ensuring a just and clear plan of social and economic recovery from the pandemic
· Invest more funds in affordable housing and tenant rights
· Legalize and decriminalize cannabis
Follow @DebCares4Iowa on Facebook and Twitter learn more about my stance on these and other issues. Please share my campaign with your friends, family and professional contacts to help us restore a Democratic Majority in the Iowa Senate.