Fisher

DES MOINES — A complaint filed by Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement (CCI) against Rep. Dean Fisher (R-Montour) over his involvement with the newly created Tama-Toledo Christian School was unanimously dismissed by the bipartisan House Ethics Committee on Tuesday morning.

“I’m glad to hear that the Ethics Committee voted unanimously to dismiss the ridiculous complaint against me. This complaint was clearly just a politically motivated attempt to smear me,” Fisher said. “It’s wrong to attempt to use the mechanisms of government to attack someone you simply disagree with on policy. Fortunately, the ethics committee agrees, and this situation has been resolved.”

The ethics committee is comprised of three Republicans — Chair Anne Osmundson, Vice Chair Stan Gustafson and Henry Stone — and three Democrats — Ranking Member Ruth Ann Gaines, Monica Hosch Kurth and Rick Olson.

In the original complaint, Iowa CCI President Barbara Kalbach accused Fisher of attempting to “cash in” on the newly implemented Education Savings Account (ESA) or voucher program that provides $7,635 in state funding per student who attends a nonpublic school. Fisher is one of the founders of the K-8 school set to open in the fall of 2025 at a former Catholic church building in Tama, and he is also serving as board president.

During the 2022 election cycle, redistricting pitted Fisher, who has held office since 2013 and vocally supported ESAs, against David Maxwell of Gibson, a fellow Republican who opposed them. Fisher won the primary and the general election, and Gov. Kim Reynolds signed the Students First Act establishing ESAs during the 2023 legislative session.

In a statement, Kalbach accused the committee of turning “a blind eye” to Fisher’s “glaring ethical violations.”

“Fisher campaigned on private school vouchers, he voted for them and now he’s trying to cash in on them to the tune of nearly $1 million a year. That’s just plain wrong. Fisher’s actions are self-dealing and self-serving. Some would say they’re corrupt, and the House Ethics Committee is letting him get away with it. That’s shameful,” she said. “If they were actually doing their job of enforcing the House Code of Ethics, the Committee should tell Fisher he can’t use vouchers to fund his new private school. And the Committee should tell other legislators – who voted for vouchers – that they can’t use them for their kids or grandkids. Politicians who voted for private school vouchers should not be allowed to profit from legislation they helped pass. Iowans demand good government – that’s accountable to the people — and ethical behavior from our elected officials.”

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Contact Robert Maharry at 641-753-6611

ext. 255 or rmaharry@timesrepublican.com.