Carolyn Wiezorek

Carolyn Wiezorek was born in Dubuque, Iowa. Wiezorek's career experience includes working as an teacher, elementary school administrator, and university professor. She earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Iowa in 1984 and a degree from the University of Northern Iowa in 2012.[1]

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

My name is Carolyn Wiezorek. My husband, Bill, and I have three adult children and two grandchildren. We both come from big families, with me being the oldest of eight and him the youngest of six. We have lived in the Dubuque area for our entire lives. I am proud to have been educated in our great state, attending The University of Iowa as an undergraduate and Northern Iowa University for a master's and doctorate degrees. Professionally, I have taught students from kindergarten through graduate school and have served as an associate professor of education and an elementary school administrator.

While I have voted and caucused in the past, I hadn't considered running for office until recently. Many political books, articles, and podcasts fueled my quest for information and revealed to me a potential new avenue of service. I believe that my past experiences in education and life have prepared me to fairly and empathetically represent the people of our community.

I believe it is important that we all participate in our democracy by taking responsibility for critically consuming information and taking action that strengthens institutions that fortifies our democracy. We must ensure that power remains with "the people" and accountability and transparency are valued and protected. Access to voting cannot be diminished because free and fair elections form the bedrock of our democracy.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Rights must be protected. The human and civil rights of people are being diminished and stripped away. Women, LGBTQIA+ people, people of color, workers, immigrants, poor people, and more are not treated equally under the law. I will work to strengthen protections for all marginalized groups. Recently passed legislation in Iowa allows people to discriminate against others on the basis of their religion. I find this to be unacceptable. We must reject discrimination of all forms.Public education must be protected and fully funded. Private school vouchers and the dismantling of our area education associations (AEAs) have negatively impacted public education. I will work to strengthen and fully fund public schools.I will work hard to represent the constituents of Iowa House District #65. I am open-minded and strive to understand the viewpoints of others. I enjoy working collaboratively to solve problems and create solutions. I believe in involving stakeholders and striving for win-win outcomes.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I am interested in education policy, as well as, anti-corruption and transparency.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Integrity is the most basic characteristic needed for public service. Elected officials should truly represent their constituents, rejecting persuasion efforts of mal-intentioned entities. At the end of each day, one must be able to look at herself in the mirror and know that all of the actions and decision that day were made in good faith and with honest effort.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I have always been an advocate for others, which I think is a main role for officeholders. I am organized, hard working, and love to collaborate. Teaching experiences have honed my skills in planning, instruction, creativity, assessment, and evaluation. I embrace change and challenges.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

The first historical event to stand out to me was when Ronald Reagan was shot. I was in my college dorm room and heard it on the radio.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

My first job was washing dishes at a local restaurant for $2.10 an hour. I worked there for a little over a year before becoming a gymnastics instructor.

What is your favorite book? Why?

I am an avid reader and struggle to list only one favorite book, so will limit myself to three.

1. Drive: The Surprising Truth About what Motivates us by Daniel H. Pink - Pink shares research on human motivation. I enjoyed learning about, and employing, the three elements of motivation (autonomy, mastery, and purpose).

2. The Happiness Advantage: The Seven Principles of Positive Psychology That Fuel Success and Performance at Work by Shawn Achor - I love the field of positive psychology and am appreciative of books that help me to help others.

3. Saving Democracy: A User's Manual for Every American by David Pepper - After reading Pepper's book, Laboratories of Autocracy: a Wake-up Call From Behind the Lines, and living in today's political mess, I was discouraged and distraught. Reading Saving Democracy offered action steps that empowered me to volunteer with the Democratic Party, learn more about politics, and eventually to run for the state house.

What do you perceive to be your state's greatest challenges over the next decade?

Iowa's greatest challenge over the next decade will be to prioritize public education. For the last several years, our legislators have defunded our schools and passed laws that divert money to private schools, often with less oversight. The majority of our children are educated in public schools, and most students with disabilities and other learning and behavioral challenges attend public schools. In addition, our legislators have dismantled our area education associations (AEAs) which will have devastating effects in the years to come. The loss of many services and the accumulated levels of experience from AEA staff members will take years to replicate or replace. We will need to be thoughtful and proactive in responding to the damage these recent laws have caused. Along with strengthen public education, we will need to regain the trust of the public in regard to education laws. Both the voucher bill and the AEA bill were unpopular with public input indicating that 79% of people were against vouchers and 99% were against the AEA bill.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Iowa State Education Association (ISEA)

Iowa UAW State CAP

Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

I think it is important to be fully transparent in all governmental activities. Providing media access, holding open meetings, maintaining checks and balances, and conducting regular audits are all practices that should be practiced and valued.

Would a state ballot initiative process be good or bad for your state?

Iowa is one of the 24 states that do not have ballot initiatives. I think that implementing a state ballot initiative process would be good for our state because it would provide another avenue for people to participate in their government.