Meet Christian.
Christian Schlaerth is the Democratic candidate for Iowa House District 9, and an Associate Professor of Criminal Justice and Sociology at Waldorf University where he has served as Chair of the Department of Criminal Justice since 2020. In his spare time, Christian researches various topics, mostly related to inequality, higher education, labor, and right-wing extremism. When he is not helping students or teaching, he can be found at the Forest City YMCA about five days a week (during the school year), training for power lifting competitions. Christian also tries to work part-time at the Humane Society of Northern Iowa.
Why Christian is Running
The short answer to the question above is because I care.
The longer answer is that I am running because the ruling party in Iowa has far overstepped their mandate. They have gotten away from the will of the people and the legislature has continued to do the will of Governor Reynolds despite what the people of Iowa want and voiced.
Iowa House District 9 did not have a challenger to the incumbent, and I was asked if I was interested in running. After talking with some of the people in the district and consulting with my partner, we decided it was the right time to challenge the power structure currently making laws in Iowa.
No one should run unopposed – politicians need to be held accountable for their actions and the decisions they make in office. Decidedly, many of the laws that have been passed in Iowa have been detrimental to the average Iowan.
I pledge to Iowa that I will not accept money from corporations, PACs, or special interest groups. Big money in politics is the root of the common person’s problems, and I refuse to be a party to it. I will not be bought, and vow to listen to and serve the people of Iowa.
I am an idealist, and that will never change.