Editor’s note: 2019 UNI grad Drew Stensland recently announced his campaign for the Democratic nomination for the Iowa House of Representatives in District 75. Below are his written responses to interview questions from The Cedar Falls News Hub. Stensland has worked as the community engagement officer at the State Auditor’s Office since 2019. At UNI, where he double majored in public administration and political science, he was Student Body President from 2018 to 2019. Prior to that, Stensland was the Speaker of the Student Senate from 2017 to 2018.
CFNH: Why are you running for office? How long have you been considering it?
DS: Over the last few months and years I have gotten involved in some community groups and realized that I wasn’t seeing many young people like me joining in or doing things like running for office. My goal with running is to serve my community and help bring other young people along with me to ensure that we get more younger generations engaged.
CFNH: What do you bring to the table in terms of experience?
DS: I am a 2015 grad of Cedar Falls High School and worked on all of the school bonds to help get us a new high school, after realizing that the building we had was not meeting the needs of students.
I went to UNI and served as Student Body President. During my time at UNI, I spearheaded the effort to get a student representative on the Cedar Falls City Council and created a program that made it easier for students to find organizations to join, both of which are still being utilized eight years later.
Since graduating from UNI in 2019, I have worked for State Auditor Rob Sand in the Auditor of State’s Office as the community engagement officer. In that role, I ran our PIE (Public Innovations and Efficiencies) program which has made local government more efficient with tax dollars.
CFNH: What do you bring to the table in terms of vision and goals?
- DS: Lower costs for Iowans by prioritizing working people over special interests
- Fully-funded public education where public dollars are for public schools, and accountability for the school voucher program beginning with the repeal of SF478, the law that gutted the State Auditor’s Office
- A strong UNI that drives Cedar Valley economic opportunity and continues to lead as an education powerhouse
- Treat Iowa’s water crisis as a top priority and ensure environmental safeguards
- Support for seniors to live independently with affordable, accountable long-term care
CFNH: Who or what motivated you to take this step toward public office?
DS: Both of my parents were public servants. My mom, Theresa, was an AEA educator and my dad, Roger, was a firefighter, and watching them wake up every day to serve others is a big reason why I got interested in public service and running for office.
CFNH: Tell me about your life experiences outside of the campaign — personal plans, professional and hobby pursuits. What you love to do when not working?
DS: Outside of work, I really enjoy distance running, collecting vinyl (favorite album is You Can Tune a Piano, but You Can’t Tuna Fish by REO Speedwagon) and eating different sweet treats from local bakeries.
CFNH: Tell me about a challenge that you have experienced and overcome that speaks to your character.
DS: Five years ago, I started going for walks more, which eventually got me on track for living a healthier life, and over the past five years I have found balance in working out and eating healthier. As someone who never did running prior to 2020 to now running over 1,000 miles the last four years, I have really been able to stick with a much healthier life.
CFNH: Your experience at UNI was formative in terms of your professional growth, I believe. What was the experience that you find most valuable, looking back?
DS: Serving as Student Body President is still one of the most valuable things I have done professionally. You learn how to work with a wide variety of stakeholders to get things done. During my time as president, we worked to get students more involved on campus by creating a program that helps connect students to organizations they may be interested in, and my administration did the first #PanthersVote initiative that led to UNI having one of the highest turnouts of college students in the nation.
CFNH: If elected, how accessible will you be to constituents?
DS: I will do a townhall in every precinct every year (one a month) and also work to do other events where constituents can meet with me whether it’s over a beverage or a message on social media. Being responsive is a key part of the job. Additionally, working with Rob Sand for six years, I saw up close how to be an accessible elected official, so I plan to do door knocking every year, not just in election years.
CFNH: Have you taken advice from some former or present politicians and what is the wisest advice that you have heard so far that you plan to test in the coming months during the campaign?
DS: I have met with several current and former elected officials. No matter how old I am, I will never know it all, and the more current and former elected officials I can talk to has made me a better candidate for the position. I understand how to do the work as a representative well.
I have had the opportunity to get to know Bob Kressig (who just announced his retirement from his post as representative for House District 75). Between getting coffee with him and having him sponsor me into the Cedar Falls Lions Club, I feel we have built a solid friendship where he can share advice he has learned from his 22 years in the Legislature.
The best advice I have received from Bob and others is the importance of door knocking. It is why on my first day and until the last day, as much as I can, I will be out meeting voters where they are and getting an understanding of their concerns and priorities and where we can make progress.
CFNH: What are three of your core principles that you position yourself on and plan to uphold, if elected?
DS: Listening, learning, and serving. Listening to constituents, learning from them, and serving them.