Elinor Levin

Elinor Levin was born in Hoffman Estates, Illinois. Levin graduated from William Fremd High School in 2005. He earned a B.A. in secondary education and English from Cornell College in 2009. Levin's career experience includes working as a private tutor with WyzAnt, a freelance fiction editor, and an eighth-grade ELA teacher with Onslow County Schools. She has been affiliated with the Iowa City Community Theatre, the League of Women Voters of Johnson County, the South District Neighborhood Association, and the Quire of Eastern Iowa.[1][2]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I want to spend my energy pushing for a government that works for the collective, long-term good of the people and the land I care so much about, as well as those connected to us by family, by community, by economy, and by so many other factors.

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?

Making Iowa a compassionate place where everyone can see a bright future for themselves, where basic needs are accessible, and where different people feel safe and welcome.Clean environment, including water, soil, and air, for every living thing, for future generations.Ensuring that every kid has a fantastic education and encouraging Iowans to be lifelong learners in ways that meet their goals and improve their lives.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Education, Environment,

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

Compassion, Diligence, and Curiosity

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

Listening to constituents and stakeholders and evaluating the potential impacts of proposed policy changes, seeking out policy ideas to improve life for the most people, and for the people who need it most.

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Video submitted to BallotpediaReleased November 8, 2021

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am an Iowan by choice twice over. I love it here. I want to live in an Iowa that we can all talk about with pride, as I do when conversations come up of redistricting and gerrymandering, as I did when telling people that I was moving back here in 2016. I want to see Iowans take responsibility for the water and land that we send downstream and that we will leave behind when we are gone. I want to ensure that people in this state are safe, well, and supported throughout their lives.

I have to be an advocate for compassion and reason in the forward movement of my community. I am a communicator, and eager to consult with experts to make well-considered decisions that improve the lives of my fellow citizens. My fundamental belief in progress and community has been challenged and strengthened in the past years, and I firmly believe that I must employ my privilege and education to be a dynamic voice in the state’s decision making going forward.

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?

I'm a break-it-down, understand the details, investigate the options kind of person. I love doing it, and I want to do it. But I know not everyone wants to, or can, spend the time on every issue. I want to give my time and my efforts to make your lives a little easier and a little safer.The roll of government is to collectively work for the betterment of all people. Electing me means electing someone who genuinely wants to hear your perspective and concerns, whether we agree or disagree. The only way I can see beyond my own experience is by learning about yours and pushing for initiatives that will do the best for the most people, and for the people who need it most.I know I won’t have everyone’s trust from the outset- that would be impossible. But I know- KNOW- that I will earn the trust of every Iowan who wants this state to work; for kids, for adults, for seniors; for those facing illness and those dreaming big dreams; for every person whose life could, and should, be just a little bit easier.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I focus on people rather than policy, but, of course I have my own strong opinions. I want to see strong public unions, amply funded-public schools, common sense gun laws, infrastructure to support reliable, high speed internet service and renewable energy across the state. I support farm programs that work towards healthy, long-term stewardship of the land and transparent access to health care, including mental, dental, and vision, for everyone.

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

An elected official must be tireless in the face of the public. When an individual represents a group, they must remember who and what is relying on them and maintain their strength, composure, and compassion. They must be comfortable with teaching and learning from others, and with saying, "I don't know. I need to learn more about that." Most of all, they must serve those who need them most, those on the margins, and not merely serve the interests of their largest funders. They must be willing to lose rather than go against their own ethics.

What legacy would you like to leave?

If I do anything in my life, I hope it is to make the world feel more hopeful for the people who come after me. It would be impossible to achieve every goal and overcome every challenge, and the world will always find more challenges, but I see such despondency amongst my friends and peers in all generations. I hope to be one of the people who makes them believe that challenges can be overcome, and that people, en masse, generally want to help one another.

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

I scooped ice cream at a hard-pack ice cream shop for just over one year in high school. I loved the job. Some days were quiet, so I could clean, organize, and restock, but other days were busy and exciting. It was definitely an upper body workout, and I had to learn to scoop with my off-hand after one particularly bust festival day. The owners had run the store for a long time, and were fair and used to working with high school employees. As long as things ran smoothly and the store was well-maintained, they were very understanding, and would, for example, let me work on homework when the store was quiet. Because most of my shifts were alone in the store, I learned a lot about self-motivation and that I am a person who likes to stay busy.

What is your favorite book? Why?

I have two favorite books. The first is Ray Bradbury's "Fahrenheit 451." The protagonist, Guy Montag, exists in such a hopeless world, yet the plot begins when he meets someone, Clarisse, who sees things differently, who is unafraid of being an outsider, and who pushes against the common wisdom. In the end, the book concludes with hope- with Montag trying to live in a better world, even if it doesn't seem much better at first.

The second is "Danny, the Champion of the World," by Roald Dahl. The language is beautiful, the story is creative and descriptive, and the relationship between the two main characters, Danny and his father, is wonderful, supportive, clever, and warm. We could all use more relationships like the model in this book.

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

The greatest challenge facing Iowa at this time, in my opinion, is keeping young people here. From century farms that cannot find a family member to continue the legacy, to college graduates who see no future for themselves in their home state, to kids who watch legislation being passed that seems to be walking us backward, this state legislature needs to consider and fight for the needs and interests of those to come after us- in 10 years and in 100.

Do you believe it’s beneficial to build relationships with other legislators? Please explain your answer.

Relationships with others, both within the legislature and outside of it, are the only way that anything progressive is ever achieved. When people disagree, and there is no positive relationship, whether it be based on respect, compassion, or mutual interest, there is no way to move forward. When there is disagreement within a relationship, conversations can still be had. Nuances can be unpacked. And we can find ways to work together.

What process do you favor for redistricting?

I am a huge proponent of Iowa's nonpartisan Legislative Services Agency and its process of submitting maps that are contiguous, compact, and preserve communities of interest to the best of their ability. Iowa's process has been in place since 1980, and is the gold standard for the nation, even successful in 2021, after delays of census data due to COVID-19.