James Uhlenkamp
Running for Iowa’s 24th House District
James Uhlenkamp cares deeply for the future generations of Iowa. He taught English and German at the Mount Ayr high school for 13 years and later at the community college level. He earned the prestigious National Board Certification. James is now the Director of Institutional Research at Graceland University. He served as Vice President of the Mount Ayr school board, and has also been on the library and Teen Center boards. James understands the needs of Iowa’s school children, teachers and public employees, and its rural citizens.
James is the first person to step up and oppose the incumbent Republican in District 24 since 2008! Cecil Dolecheck has represented this rural, southern Iowa district since 1997. When Democrats were in control of the house, Dolecheck voted against progressive legislation. He said “Nay” to bullying protections for school children and evidence-based sex education. Now, he votes with his fellow Republicans on every bill. He supported the voter ID law and removal of collective bargaining rights for public employees. He has sponsored bills that would prohibit abortion in all cases. Despite the disaster that privatization of Medicaid has caused in Iowa, he advocates maintaining the privatized system.
James supports investments in the citizens of rural Iowa. He speaks against public money going to corporations. James stands with public educators as they work to prevent a voucher system in Iowa and changes to the stable pension system. He calls for redeveloping rural Iowa with decent jobs and livable wages, modern infrastructure and job training.
I don’t have a policy, but a goal. Politicians at the State House haven’t been paying enough attention to rural Iowa for a long time, and it shows. My goal is to revitalize the rural communities that serve as the backbone of our state through fixing health care, bringing jobs and infrastructure to rural Iowa, and improving education for all.
