Every cent, and I mean every cent, being spent on Iowa's disastrous private school voucher program should be redirected into our public school system. Public dollars should go to public schools, period.

Opinion: Polk County goes 'smart on crime' in ways other prosecutors should copy

Women are waking up across Iowa today to find that they no longer have bodily autonomy in this state. It is time to oust every Republican who voted to make us second class citizens.

13/ Help me to make sure all our children have a safe opportunity to learn and grow so they and their families do not have to go through what I did. Thank you for your consideration. I appreciate your support and vote.

12/ My life changed when I started going to that small library in prison. I still go to libraries. In fact, I now have four library cards.

11/ I know, because I have lived it and we must help these families, educators and children in their time of need. We must have stable jobs, businesses and opportunities for families to grow and thrive. These are also the reasons I am running for Iowa House of Representatives.

10/ I know the importance of getting a quality education and the need for a safe environment for that to happen. Understanding how the plant closing will affect the families in our community and how quickly things can spiral downward.

9/ When the horrific Perry Public School shooting occurred and then the announcement of the Tyson plant closing, it broke my heart. This should not be happening. This also solidified my commitment to our community I love and raised a family in.

7/ This is why I am running for Iowa House of Representatives in District #47. I refuse to allow other vulnerable children go down the wrong path without having done everything in my power to make sure that doesn’t happen.

8/ Today, I have been elected to the Perry City Council and sit on the Board of Directors for our local hospital. We must improve the conditions of the lives of all people in our district, especially for our children.

6/ My union job moved me from Las Vegas to Michigan to Iowa. I've been in Perry for 15 years with my wife and son having watched him earn two Master's Degrees in Music. I dedicated my life to my family and to make up for the mistakes I made.

5/ After four years I was released for good behavior. This was my second chance and I was not going to waste it. My first job was in fast food, then I landed an apprentice program with Plumbers and Pipefitters #525. I spent five years as an apprentice and started a family.

4/ I studied magazines and books to learn trades so when released could make an honest living. I learned how to cook, plumb and weld in the prison library, kitchen and shop. I wanted to regain my life, clear my debt to society and atone for the mistakes.

3/ and needed to reset to one my parents would have been proud of. So now that I had some time on my hands, I started going to the prison library. It’s this time in the library where I learned the basics, like reading and writing.

2/ You don't have the ability to recognize when others are taking advantage of you. It happened to me and I messed up. As a child, I started selling drugs to get by and quickly landed in prison. That’s when I realized I had taken the wrong path

1/My name is Joe Shelly from Perry, Iowa. When I was just a kid, I lost my father and mother. When a child loses their family or community structure at such a young age they become vulnerable and impressionable.

Since @KimberlyforIowa's office has implemented a less-expensive income-based repayment plan, the number of residents who've signed up for reinstatement plans has gone up by 109%! Amazing what can happen when you meet people closer to where they're at. https://t.co/fhEjdmnnCK

It is an honor to have the support of Polk County Attorney @KimberlyforIowa

Please RT! If elected, I would be the first trans State Legislator in Iowa's history. Help us reach our fundraising goal before the deadline by donating using this link- https://t.co/APfr88zxex Thank you!

6/"We will work to keep everyone safe in Polk County whether you've lived here all your life, are documented or undocumented, or visiting for just a day. We will always support victims and witnesses and serve everyone in our community, regardless of immigration status."