Clear Lake Councilman will explore run for Iowa House District 54 seat

by Marianne Gasaway

Clear Lake City Councilman Bennett Smith has announced he is exploring the possibility of becoming an independent candidate for the Iowa Legislature in House District 54 for the upcoming 2020 fall election.

“Over the next few weeks I look forward to hearing from citizens in the district regarding the various legislative issues that are of important concern to them and having the opportunity to share some of my views on public policy,” stated Smith in a release to media last week.  “I believe in a politics that values problem-solving over partisanship with the goal of enhancing the quality of life for all Iowans. I am committed to public service and I believe that I have the ability, experience and judgement to make a positive difference in the Iowa Legislature.”

Incumbent Linda Upmeyer, of Clear Lake, announced earlier this year that she was stepping down as Speaker of the House for the upcoming session and did not plan to seek re-election to the seat.

House District 54 includes Clear Lake, the western third of Cerro Gordo County, all of Franklin County, and the northwestern part of Butler County.

“If I enter the race my goal will be to build a coalition of Republicans, Democrats and In-

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dependents that want to move Iowa forward with a positive vision for conserving our natural resources, improving our educational outcomes, reforming our healthcare system, and promoting economic development across the State of Iowa,” stated Smith.

Smith is an instructor in history and political science at North Iowa Area Community College (NIACC). He is also an instructor in various lifelong learning programs including the NIACC Lifelong Learning Institute; the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Iowa State University and the LIFE program at Rochester Community and Technical College in Rochester, Minn. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in speech communication and a Master of Arts degree in history from ISU. He has also done graduate work at the University of Iowa in Social Foundations of Education.

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