As mid-term elections loom nearer, many from Iowa’s 47th district have rallied behind state senator candidate and Pleasant Valley School Board member Dr. Nikhil Wagle.
Wagle announced his bid to run for the state senate seat against incumbent Scott Webster in early August. His campaign, which centers on healthcare, education, infrastructure, the economy and empowering the Iowa youth, has resonated with Iowans from a variety of communities.
Joe Brammeier, host of the new live stream show The Real Quad Cities, believes Wagle to be a candidate who has productive discourse with voters. “I’m sure he and I, if I really got into all of the things that Nikhil supports and believes in, I’m sure we can find a lot of common ground on every single one of those topics, but I’m also sure we’d find some outlier points that we would probably disagree on, as well,” said Brammeier. “But I feel like he’s the kind of person that could do that in a respectful way, and it would be reciprocal, and any conversation could be productive.”
Wagle’s candidacy stems from his own personal experience in the health care industry. As an ophthalmologist, he has been an active member of the Quad City community for decades. Wagle has served over 25,000 patients and has seen the healthcare crises that plague Iowans firsthand.
“I have been a physician for the last 27 years, and I have seen a dramatic shift over that time. Access has become harder, and health care costs have increased exponentially. Patients are now having to make the tough decisions on choosing whether to spend their money on the essentials of daily living or health care, all while corporations and insurance companies are reporting record profits,” Wagle said. “The healthier our community is, the more productive and stronger our local economies are.”
As the state moves towards passing legislation that impacts healthcare and affordability in Iowa, having a physician or healthcare worker perspective would provide valuable insight.
However, in the current Iowa State Senate, there are no physicians in office. “I just think we could use someone with a physician’s viewpoint. We could use somebody that’s a critical thinker,” shared State Senator Mike Zimmer, a former Pleasant Valley Director of Secondary Education.
Beyond his career as a physician, Wagle has served the Pleasant Valley community as a school board member for 12 years, including five years as president. The district also received many accolades, including the prestigious National Blue Ribbon distinction, under his leadership.
For students, his efforts have led to increased support from the student body.
In 2023, Wagle ran a successful re-election campaign for the PV School Board, and many of the district’s parents and students came together to garner support from the PV community.
“Wagle had a great record as a member and as president of the school board, advocating for a strong and competitive education system and adamantly supporting teachers and students like me,” Sanchez Carmona added. “I felt very comfortable trusting him to keep the district in good hands. He always had the well-being of PV students in mind and worked hard to care for and uplift the community he’s a part of.”
For State Senator Mike Zimmer, school board experience can help provide a fundamental understanding of the Iowa school system for legislation. “When I address my Senate colleagues, I’m able to provide examples and clarifications from my 42 years in public education as a principal and administrator.”
It is Wagle’s diverse portfolio of experience that has positioned him as a candidate for Iowa’s 47th district that so many are rallying behind.
Anyone interested in more information about Wagle’s candidacy can visit his website.
