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Get to know Iowa's Black political candidates. Look to Black Iowa News for profiles about the candidates. In the first installment, Tiara Mays, a mother of two and author from Johnston, is running as a Democrat for Iowa House District 43, which covers northwestern Polk County. Previously Mays ran for a seat on the Johnston School Board. Eddie Andrews is seeking reelection for House District 43. Andrews and Mays will also face challenger Johnston City Council member Suresh Reddy. The primary will be held on June 7.

The Iowa Black Caucus: 2022 Candidate Meet & Greet and Town Hall

Iowa Black Caucus: Candidate Meet & Greet – 2:30 p.m.-4 p.m., Saturday, March 19, Noce Jazz Club, 1326 Walnut St, Des Moines. Free food+cash bar. Meet elected officials and 2022 candidates.
Iowa Black Caucus Town Hall: Education, Health Care, Voting Rights – Noon-2 p.m. Sunday, March 20, Old Brick Church & Community Center, 26 E. Market St., Iowa City.
For more information email: Al Womble, chair Iowa Democratic Black Caucus at awomble71@gmail.com.

Tiara Mays, candidate for Iowa House District 43, Johnston

Tiara Mays. Photo courtesy of Mays.

Black Iowa News: What motivated you to run for Iowa House District 43?

Tiara: "My overall passion is to help others and to be an advocate. My consideration to run for State House began with that passion. After the first few weeks of the current legislative session, seeing certain proposed bills come out was eye opening. Everything has become so political all the way down to the books that we read. I am hopeful to help bring our state government to a place where human decency is all the top priority."

Black Iowa News: What did you learn from your school board run that will be helpful in this campaign?

Tiara: "I learned a great deal about our community in House District 43 during the school board campaign. I am taking that knowledge from learning what our community prioritizes to help steer this campaign. I also learned a bit about campaign structure."

Black Iowa News: What kind of difference do you hope to make at the Iowa House?

Tiara: "I hope to offer a different perspective. As an everyday Iowan, it can often feel that proposed legislation is completely out of touch of what normal Iowans want and or need. For example, when legislators propose cuts to employment or SNAP benefits — have they ever had to utilize these services? There have been times in my adult life where I have had to use government services — your pen to sign and cut these services may not write as quickly if you have been directly impacted before. Life diversity is necessary at the Capitol so that a wide range of voices can properly advocate for Iowans."

	Tiara L. Mays for Iowa House Mar 05, 2022 ·

Black Iowa News: What are the key issues you feel passionate about?

Tiara: "Education, healthcare and economic."

Black Iowa News: What other elected positions do you hold or have held?

Tiara: "I was recently elected to the Heartland Area Education Agency Board of Directors. Board members are elected by local district boards of education and serve staggered four-year terms. The director district I serve is District 4; school districts represented include: Boone, Dallas Center-Grimes, Johnston, Madrid, Ogden, Urbandale and Woodward-Granger."

Black Iowa News: What are the key reasons House District 43 needs new representation?

Tiara: "We need diversity of thought, lifestyle, education, careers, etc. to serve as legislators. You name it, we need it. Iowans come from various walks of life; their legislators should be representative of that."

Black Iowa News: What is the city of your birth?

Tiara: "Detroit, Michigan."

Black Iowa News: What brought you to Iowa?

Tiara: "My parents moved our family to Iowa for my father’s job at Drake University)."