Sinikka Waugh

Sinikka Waugh earned a high school diploma from Air Academy High School, a bachelor's degree from Central College in 1996, and a graduate degree from the University of Iowa in 1999. Her career experience includes working as a business owner and president.[1]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I’m Sinikka Waugh, a small business owner and mom running for Iowa Senate District 11 in Warren and Marion counties. For eighteen years, I’ve built a business here, hired and supported local workers, and shown up every day for my family, church and community. I love Iowa and believe government should work the same way small businesses do: listen first, address problems, and be accountable. I’m running to bring practical, respectful leadership back to the State Senate.

I want my daughters, and every child in Iowa, to grow up safe, educated, and proud to call this state home. I believe families deserve good schools, clean water, affordable health care, and an economy that rewards hard work. I’m running to pass thoughtful, responsible laws that put people first and keep Iowa a place where families can build strong, hopeful futures together.

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?

Strong schools to ensure every child has access to quality education close to homeAddress our water crisis head on to ensure every Iowan has access to clean drinking water and clean water in our lakes and riversThriving small businesses and quality jobs for workers who keep Iowa moving

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Transparency, accountability, and fiscal responsibility that puts Iowans first

Lower daily costs for Iowans from healthcare to groceries to childcare to eldercare

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

My grandparents who cared for their families and their communities while living out their faith day to day.

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

Listening, accountability, being willing to consult with experts

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

Listening to constituents, advocating for the needs of the district, ensuring that the needs of Iowans come first

What legacy would you like to leave?

I'd like people to want to leave things better than they found them and to approach each other with more compassion and care.

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

After years of informal babysitting gigs, I had my first "official" job working for an office temp company for several years in the summers and over holiday breaks through high school and college. This introduced me to a wide range of workplace cultures and allowed me to connect quickly with others and find patterns in work environments.

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

I was a woman business owner in a male-dominated field, and I gained a seat at the table through positive results.

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and state legislature?

Healthy, mutually-respectful, thoughtful, balanced, non-adversarial.

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

We have a critical cancer crisis (we have among the highest cancer rates in the nation and the fastest rising rates); we have lost our premiere status in education (dropped from very top to 13th, 27th, or worse depending on what you measure); we're losing young professionals and middle-age folks as well; our health care access is reduced with rural hospitals and clinics closing at an alarming rate including reduced access to OB/GYN, psychiatric care, and instead of focusing on these key issues, the last few years of elections and policies have focused on unnecessary culture wars, increasing the divide and vitriol among Iowans.

We need to come together to address our cancer crisis, our education crisis, and our access to health care and jobs, and find solutions that work for all Iowans.

Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?

We have so much to learn from each other. Healthy, productive dialogue is a key to moving forward.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

ISEA

What was the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember?

Two early US presidential memories:

I remember playing in the field by our house and learning about the attempted assassination of President Ronald Reagan when I was about 5 years old.

I remember when Geraldine Ferraro was nominated for VP on the Democratic ticket in 1984.