Candidate Forum, Presented by Matt Shaw with Caliber Realty

Date and Time

Wednesday Oct 21, 2026
11:00 AM - 1:00 PM CDT

11:00 am | Registration and Networking
11:15 am | Welcome
11:25 am | Candidate Forum
12:55 pm | Wrap up

Location

E.J. Giovannetti Shelter in Walker Johnston Park
9000 Douglas Ave.,
Urbandale, IA 50322

Fees/Admission

The forum is open to the public and there is no cost to attend.

Lunch can be brought from home or a sack lunch can be ordered in advance for $20 from IN the Bag with the choice of Turkey, Ham, Veggie or Roast Beef.

Contact Information

Kelly Troxel
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Description

The Urbandale Chamber of Commerce is proud to hold a candidate forum every year to allow the community to learn more about the candidates running for public office. The forum is open to the public and free to attend. Lunch may be purchased for a small fee if desired.

Please submit questions to Kelly Troxel at kelly @urbandalechamber.com.
We will ask candidates as many questions as possible.
Questions must be submitted by Friday, October 9th at Noon.

Meet our Candidates (by district, alphabetical by last name):
Iowa House District 43:
Jill Alesch
Jill Alesch is a veteran, attorney, and mother with more than 22 years of military service and a strong commitment to serving others. A Denison native, she worked her way through college and law school before deploying to Afghanistan in 2010 as an attorney for an Infantry Brigade Combat Team. She later served with the U.S. Department of Justice before retiring from the Iowa Army National Guard in 2020. Jill now works at Principal Life Insurance Company and lives in Johnston with her two children, Trevor and Brooklyn. She is running for Iowa House District 43, bringing her experience in military service, law, and community leadership to the campaign.

Iowa House District 44:
Larry McBurney
Larry McBurney is a lifelong Iowan, Des Moines native, and Urbandale resident who has built a career around military and community service. A Des Moines North High School graduate, Larry served 11 years in the Iowa Air National Guard as a Weapons Armament Technician and completed three overseas deployments. He later helped transition the 132nd Fighter Wing from its F-16 mission to its current intelligence and remotely piloted aircraft support mission. Larry and his wife, Luisita, are active volunteers with organizations including UCAN, Meals from the Heartland, and the Filipino American Society. He served on the Urbandale Civil Rights Commission and Urbandale City Council before being elected to the Iowa House of Representatives in 2024. He also serves as Urbandale’s representative on the Bravo Greater Des Moines board.

Iowa House District 46:
Dan Gehlbach
Dan Gehlbach is a lifelong Iowan, Urbandale native, and graduate of Urbandale High School who returned home in 2006 to build a business, raise a family, and give back to his community. Today, he serves Iowa House District 46 in the Iowa House of Representatives, where he chairs the House Education Appropriations Subcommittee and serves on several other committees. Before entering public service, Dan and his wife, Staci, owned and operated Mathnasium of West Des Moines, helping thousands of students succeed in mathematics and creating local jobs. He previously served on the Waukee Community School District Board and has been active with numerous community organizations. Dan holds an MBA from Arizona State University and a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Kansas. He and Staci have been married for more than 20 years and have two daughters.

Mandy Newtown Rosenow
Mandy Newton Rosenow is a fifth-generation Iowan, Sioux City native, and longtime health care professional with more than 20 years of experience caring for patients. She earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Iowa and her master’s degree as a Physician Assistant from Des Moines University. Mandy and her husband, Justin, spent eight years traveling the country during his service in the U.S. Navy before returning home to Iowa to raise their family. She currently serves patients at Primary Health Care in the Des Moines area and has worked in community medicine, primary care, emergency medicine, neurology, and military health care. Mandy is also active in her community, volunteering in her children’s schools, coaching youth sports, and participating in local programs. Outside of work and community service, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, sewing, woodworking, hiking, and good conversation.

Iowa Senate District 23:
Wes Enos

Wes Enos is the Republican nominee for Iowa Senate District 23 and a longtime Central Iowa community leader. A former Bondurant City Council member and Deputy Mayor, Wes currently serves as Deputy Chief of Staff and State Director for Congressman Zach Nunn. He and his wife, Amy, are foster and adoptive parents and make their home in Bondurant. Wes is running to bring his experience in business, local government, and public service to the Iowa Senate, with a focus on affordability, tax reform, economic development, and workforce growth.

Tony Thompson
Tony Thompson is a fourth-generation Iowa farmer, small-business owner, husband, and father who lives and works near Elkhart. A North Polk High School graduate, Tony earned a degree in computer science from Cornell College before spending four years with Habitat for Humanity, including work in grant management, organizational development, and housing projects around the world. He later earned a master’s degree and Ph.D. in Sweden focused on strategic leadership, sustainability, and sustainable product innovation. Tony returned to Iowa in 2013 to grow his family farm and became involved in local agriculture and food systems, including helping grow a local produce delivery business into a food hub connecting Iowa farmers and producers with consumers. He has also worked in data science and technology and served on community and agricultural organizations, including the Iowa Farmers Union. Tony and his wife, Amanda, are raising their family in Senate District 23.