Q. How do you feel you differ from your opponent, what assets can you bring to the House seat that you feel your opponent cannot?

While age alone is not a qualification, life experience matters. I am 43 years old, and the experiences I have gained through military service, local government, and years of advocacy have prepared me to serve effectively on day one. For the past five years, I have personally invested my time and resources into working with legislators and advocating for issues important to everyday Iowans. Through that work, I have built strong working relationships not only with members of the legislature, but also with policy advocates and grassroots leaders across the state. I am also a father, which gives me a direct understanding of the challenges families face every day. My background as both a soldier and as mayor has taught me how to lead under pressure, solve real problems, and make difficult decisions when the stakes are high. What most separates me from my opponent is that my experience has been rooted in service and accountability. I have worked directly with the kinds of issues our citizens face — infrastructure, public safety, budgets, economic concerns, and the day-to-day realities affecting working families and rural communities. I understand these challenges not just from policy discussions, but from firsthand experience. Governance requires resilience, discipline, and the ability to work through disagreement without losing focus on the people you represent. I believe my record demonstrates that I am prepared to do exactly that for this district.

What can you do as the representative for a primarily rural area to get legislation through that will help the smaller communities, such as Webster City, Williams, and other towns with populations under 15,000?

As a representative, my responsibility would be not only to vote on legislation, but to continuously advocate for the communities throughout this district and ensure that Webster City, Williams, and all of the towns in Iowa House District 55 have a strong voice at the Capitol. My experience as Mayor of Roland gives me firsthand knowledge of the challenges smaller communities face. Our town has a population of approximately 1,380 people, so I understand the realities of limited budgets, infrastructure needs, workforce shortages, housing concerns, and the importance of maintaining essential services. The long-term stability of rural communities depends on economic growth and opportunity. That means attracting industry, supporting small businesses, improving infrastructure, and encouraging the creation of good-paying jobs throughout Hamilton, Wright, and Franklin Counties. Strong communities are built when families can afford to stay, work, and raise their children locally. A portion of District 55 is unique because Story County itself includes Ames, which has different economic effects on the southern part of District 55 than many of our smaller rural communities. Rather than seeing that as a challenge, I see it as an opportunity. Growth in one part of the district can help strengthen surrounding communities if we focus on regional partnerships, workforce development, and policies that encourage investment across the entire area. Population growth often follows opportunity. If we create an environment where businesses can succeed and families can thrive, people will choose to build their future here.

What do you feel is the single most important issue that needs to be addressed by state government at this time that is not getting handled, unique to other years (not education, not economy)?

One issue that deserves greater attention is election integrity and public confidence in our electoral process. Regardless of political affiliation, I believe Iowans should have confidence that election laws are applied fairly, consistently, and transparently. When inconsistencies exist in residency requirements, ballot access, or enforcement standards, it can weaken public trust in the system. Current law allows a candidate to establish residency in a district just 60 days before a general election, while petition signers must already reside within the district at the time signatures are collected. I believe these types of inconsistencies should be reviewed carefully to ensure fairness and equal standards for everyone involved in the process. In addition, I believe Iowa must continue examining the influence of outside money and special interests in our elections and policymaking process. Iowa’s government should remain accountable first and foremost to the people of Iowa, not to organizations or interests seeking to shape policy for their own benefit. Protecting public trust in elections and ensuring transparency in government are essential responsibilities of state leadership.

Beau Klaver

Q. How do you feel you differ from your opponent, what assets can you bring to the House seat that you feel your opponent cannot?

The first asset that I can bring that my opponent cannot is my agriculture and business experience. I am the only farmer and one with an agriculture background. Agricultural jobs or jobs related to industry makeup almost 50% of the jobs in District 55. My deep love for agriculture led me to Iowa State University and I graduated with an Agriculture Degree. Also with running my agriculture drone business, I have learned what it takes to run a small business in Iowa and the challenges that occur, one that my opponent does not have as well. I am able to bring the ability to work with others to get good legislation passed, the area of working with others is one that I strongly believe I will excel better than my opponent at the capitol.

What can you do as the representative for a primarily rural area to get legislation through that will help the smaller communities, such as Webster City, Williams, and other towns with populations under 15,000?

I will fight for rural Iowa and especially our rural towns. I grew up in Kamrar, a town of less than 200 people so I have firsthand seen the issues in rural Iowa. We need to be keeping our young individuals within the smaller communities and I would love to champion legislation that provides opportunities for Iowan’s living in towns with smaller populations. Also creating opportunities for strong, viable jobs in rural Iowa.

What do you feel is the single most important issue that needs to be addressed by state government at this time that is not getting handled, unique to other years (not education, not economy)?

The single most important issue that needs to be addressed by the state government at this time is supporting and creating opportunities to retain our young individuals within the state of Iowa and more specifically in the rural areas. The state government can provide incentives for the younger Iowans to stay within Iowa and our rural areas.