Chris New

Chris New earned a high school diploma from North High School. He earned a bachelor's degree from Buena Vista University in 2003. His career experience includes working as a filmmaker.[1]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am a Dallas Center resident, husband, and father of three who is running for the Iowa House to bring a new direction to District 47. I've spent the last 20+ years as a video producer and small business professional, working with people across Iowa to tell their stories.

I began life in eastern Kansas, but attended K-12 in the Sioux City public schools. I then went to Buena Vista University, where I earned my BA in Media Studies.

My wife Nina and I are raising three boys — Alex, Ben, and Henry — in the same kind of community most of us grew up in: one where neighbors look out for each other, kids play outside freely and without fear, and most deals are still done with a handshake.

I am running because I believe the people of Greene, Guthrie, and northwest Dallas County deserve a representative who actually hears their concerns; concerns about a state budget built on cuts instead of solutions, schools being starved of the funding teachers and kids need, and working families bearing the costs of tax policy written for somebody else.

My faith shapes how I see the work ahead of us: that all people are worthy of dignity and honesty — that government owes every citizen a fair shot. As a community, we owe it to each other to look out for our neighbor, whether next door or across the world. That's the attitude I'll bring to finding solutions to the problems our state faces!

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?

We live in a time where democratic norms are being tested, and boundaries of good governance and accountability are being tested. I feel it's important at all levels of government to push back on creeping authoritarianism, and halt the Legislature and Reynold's administration policies of making Iowa a "rubber stamp" for everything done by Trump.Public education in Iowa is woefully underfunded, and that is in no small part due to the school voucher program. We need — at minimum — accountability for funds used for private education, so that we know that use of public money is being held to the same standards as in public schools.Water quality is an urgent issue for Iowans. As we see cancer rates reach new highs for our residents, we see a disappointing lack of action on the part of Republican legislators. The causes of these diseases are likely from one of two sources: chemicals and fertilizers in our water, and radon in our homes.

I know that we can come together as a larger community to address these issues without assigning blame or castigating others. Our family farmers are caretakers of Iowa land, and as such have a vested interest in keeping the soil and waterways healthy. The land they manage feeds our world, and offers sport and recreation for Iowa residents. We have actionable proposals on the table to assist farmers in doing this; we just need to act.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I have a strong interest in accountability in government. I've seen too often in recent years that one set of rules for public servants isn't applied equally and fairly to the other side, and I would like to see less partisanship and more good (boring?!) governance.

I also believe that Iowa is a tremendous place to live and raise a family, and, when we pull together as a local communities, we can create fantastic jobs, recreation, and opportunities for Iowa families. That's a big reason my family lives in a community like Dallas Center.

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

Clarity of communication, understanding of constitutional law, humility.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

Ensuring that laws and regulations work the best for most people, while never harming any small group of individuals.