English for Iowa House of Representatives District 66
An Iowa for the Next Generation
About Matt English
Iowan: I was born and raised in Anamosa, coming from a long line of Iowa farmers dating back to 1856, and graduating from Anamosa High School. Iowa is a great place to raise a family, which is why, after serving in the U.S. Army, I transitioned to the Iowa National Guard and brought my desire to serve back home.
Veteran: I enlisted in the Army and served in three countries overseas: Afghanistan, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia. During my time in the Army, I developed a service-oriented mentality, but I also wanted to see the benefits of my service reflected in those around me. The desire to see the impact of service led me to transition to the Iowa National Guard and eventually pursued a career in education, helping to mold the next generation of Iowans.
Educator: I serve my community through education, which is the most incredible honor of my life. Seeing the effect I have on students each day and knowing that there are days when some students only come to school to attend my class brings me joy and a continued sense of purpose.
U.S. Army Veteran Matt English presents U.S. Navy Veteran Lavern Schafer with a Quilt of Valor recognizing his military service
Political Philosophy
Liberty must be at the core of any functioning representative democracy, and as such it is the framing value of my political beliefs. As a representative, I will endeavor to protect the Civil and Human Rights of all Iowans, no matter creed, religion, race, gender, sex, or orientation.
In order to guarantee the greatest possible liberty to all Iowans, the state government has a responsibility to adequately fund essential services and provide for the general welfare of the citizens of Iowa. A failure to do so will inherently cause undue hardship, economic stagnation, and the loss of young and brilliant Iowans seeking opportunity outside of our great state.
My political philosophy has been shaped by my upbringing in rural Iowa, my time as an enlisted infantryman in the U.S. Army and the Iowa National Guard, and my experience as an educator of the great students of Anamosa. I believe that the guarantee of liberty as envisioned by the U.S. and Iowa Constitutions must be maintained, but fear that it has come under threat due to intentional underinvestment in Iowa’s future.