Eric South is running for State Representative in Iowa House District 40 that includes Urbandale. He has a contested primary against Scott Reed in the Republican Primary on June 7. The winner will challenge incumbent State Representative John Forbes (D-Urbandale).
South grew up on the east side of Des Moines. His dad was a member of a labor union and worked the same job for 32 years. His mother was a stay-at-home mom until he turned 10 and then she returned to the workforce. South married his wife Sarah in 2006. He has a step son, Brendan, through that marriage. His family moved to the district in May.
South has spent his entire career working in retail, food services, janitorial services, financial services and public safety.
South completed a survey that Caffeinated Thoughts emailed him.
Why do you want to serve as a state legislator?
I have spent my entire life in Iowa. Iowa is a great state to live in, however, I think we can do better by getting back to basics and original intent.
Describe your worldview and what role that would play as a state legislator:
I believe the individual achieves the most when they are taught self-reliance and individual responsibility. The role I would play as a state legislature, is to allow the individual to succeed or fail. without the state picking winners and losers through regulations.
Your top three issues of concern are?
Education, religious freedom and the Second Amendment.
What is your position on education, in particular Common Core, Next Generation Science Standards, Iowa Core and high stakes testing?
I am against any overt control of education by the government. If we want Iowa to be a leader in education again, then we need to get back to basics.
How do you define local control in education?
The state sets guidelines on how children are to be educated, then local districts then get to decide how best to meet those standards.
When does someone become a person and at what point should they be granted all constitutional protections of a person under the law?
Someone becomes a person at conception, and deserves all the rights and protections of the constitution, from that point forward to natural death.
Do you support recently passed legislation in the Iowa House allowing kids under 14 to use handguns with parental supervision:
Yes, I support that legislation. I believe that, if children were shown how to properly use guns, at an early age, then when they got older, there would not be the likelihood of kids playing with guns.
Do you support Constitutional carry and the Second Amendment:
Yes, I support both. The language of the second amendment is very clear. We as Iowans should be able to exercise that right without government inference.
Do you support raising any taxes. And, have you supported raising any taxes in the past? If so, which ones?
No, I do not support any tax increases.
What will you do as a state legislator to lessen the tax burden on farmers and small businesses?
I believe an overall reduction in regulations would reduce the tax burden because that would not be so many employees on the state payroll.
Do you support traditional marriage and is there anything you hope to do as a state legislator regarding marriage and how?
Yes, I support traditional marriage. I would explore constitutional wording, in a piece of legislation, that would bypass the supreme court decision on same sex marriage.
What is your position on Christians refusing service at same-sex weddings?
Religious liberty is the foundation of this state and this nation. We as Christians, must be allowed, to practice our faith outside the four walls of our home and/or our church.
What will you do as legislator, if anything, to strengthen religious liberty?
I would support or introduce legislation, that would get the state from out behind the pulpit. If people want to declare the separation of church and state, then it must go both ways.
Do you support allowing Syrian refugees into Iowa?
No, because there is not an adequate vetting process in place to check them before they arrive.
What type of pro-life bills would you support?
As stated before, life begins at conception. That means, you are a person at conception and I would support any legislation that would give the unborn a fighting chance to live.
Should taxpayer money pay for Planned Parenthood?
No. If Christian charities must be privately funded, then so should Planned Parenthood.
In what circumstances would you go against the leadership of your own caucus if elected?
Anytime I felt it would violate my biblical principles.
