Rep. Nunn a no-show after Creston town hall invitation

An organized attempt to invite Representative Zach Nunn to an open town hall did not bear fruit last Saturday as several of Union County’s citizens and beyond arrived at the Restored Depot to speak to an empty chair.

The event and invitation was organized by Southwest Iowa Indivisible, which describes itself as an organization that “empowers local progressive individuals and groups by uniting and amplifying voices through networks, resources and public platforms in pursuit of liberty and justice for all.”

A much different tone took over the proceedings compared to the most recent visit of elected politicians. March 1′s organized legislative coffee with state legislators Tom Shipley and Devon Wood was notable for limiting crowd correspondence to written questions. For Saturday’s invitation, a microphone would be passed through the audience, giving an open chance for discussion.

The meeting was recorded and is available online through Southwest Iowa Indivisble’s YouTube channel. Any written correspondence was said to be delivered to Rep. Nunn’s office. No mention of the meeting was ever given by Nunn.

An introduction was given from Pat Shipley, who ran as a Democrat for the Iowa House in 2022. Shipley recognized the room’s notably left-leaning audience, and said how it was important for those with similar political views to be able to meet as a smaller voter base.

“Know you are not alone,” Shipley said. “Sometimes, in our area - I’ve lived here my whole life - it’s hard to think you’re the only one to feel this way. This is your chance to speak your truth.”

Shipley would also poke Republicans for recent behaviors on cancelling town hall meetings. GOP leadership in early March, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, would recommend against Republicans holding town halls in fear of “professional protesters.”

“No one was paid to be here,” Shipley said in her introduction.

Shipley, throughout the event, would hold up a portrait of Nunn like a shield for speakers to “talk” to. Several speakers chose to speak directly to Nunn. A common theme among the audience was accusing Nunn of being more loyal to party and administration rather than those who voted him into office. Audience members would applaud speakers regularly.

Federal issues, and a focus on the Trump administration’s efforts to slash federal programs such as Social Security and Medicare/Medicaid, were a major talking point. While some took the opportunity to voice their frustrations toward the administration, most were concerned with how Nunn, as a part of the Republican majority in the House, would try to counter these efforts to cut spending, if at all.

Civility seemed optional for some speakers. Disparaging names for notable figures in government (one speaker referred to President Donald Trump as “Felon 47″ and Elon Musk as “Muskrat”) would plague a mostly cordial town hall.

One speaker, Sheryl Heidecker, said she’s lesbian and is worried with how she could access Social Security if the rights for the LGBT community were reduced. Heidecker said she receives a widow’s benefit and is diabetic, meaning the cost of insulin is paid through Social Security. As Heidecker spoke, her diabetic monitor on her phone would sound an alarm.

“Can I count on you to vote in favor of legislation that will guarantee my status as a widow?” Heidecker asked, speaking to Nunn directly. “Can I count on you to vote that I will not lose the Social Security and Medicare benefits that I need to stay alive?”

The Department of Government Efficiency and Elon Musk were given considerable attention, most asking Nunn what Congress can do to limit the effectiveness of an unelected official’s scything of government programs.

USAID would be mentioned by one speaker as “soft diplomacy,” and one of the few ways to enrich a global community rather than keep our resources focused within our borders.

“If you don’t want refugees coming into the United States, then soft diplomacy and making sure they have the basic tools to survive in their own country, and then prosper,... [USAID] is the most effective way to do that,” Julia Weishaar-Mullin said.

Trump’s mass deportation plans were given criticism by many speakers, most calling for accountability for deportations which have been performed without evidence of a crime.

Support for Ukraine and criticism of President Trump’s handling of diplomacy with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was given by U.S. Air Force veteran Bill Baker in a fiery speech. Zelenskyy was removed from the White House Feb. 27 after a public meeting with Trump and members of his administration got into an argument with the Ukrainian leader. Trump would say the moment would make for “great television.”

“I can’t understand how anybody in the United States who calls themselves an American citizen can support anyone who would do that,” Baker said.

A Ukrainian flag would be hung near the exit of the Restored Depot for the meeting.

Other major topics touched on by multiple speakers include attention toward Iowa’s ballooning cancer rate, education program cuts, corruption at the legislative and public servant levels of government, water quality of lakes and tax cuts for billionaires.