No re-election bid for Upmeyer in 2020

(Above) Speaker of the House Linda Upmeyer waves to the crowds at Clear Lake’s Fourth of July parade.-Reporter file photo.

by Marianne Gasaway

Linda Upmeyer (R-Clear Lake) announced Monday that she will not seek re-election in 2020 and plans to resign as Speaker of the Iowa House in late 2019.

  “After thoughtful consideration, I have made the decision that it is time for me to step away from the Legislature to spend more time with my husband, kids, and grandkids. It has been the honor of a lifetime to serve the people of Iowa. I want to thank all of my constituents that have allowed me to represent them in the Iowa House over the past 17 years,” stated Upmeyer.  “Most of all, I want to thank my family for being so supportive.  Whether I was in session in Des Moines, crisscrossing the state attending fundraisers, or traveling to conferences and other meetings in other states, their unwavering support and encouragement are what made it possible for me to serve. I can’t thank them enough.”

Upmeyer was first elected to the Iowa House in 2002 where she used her experience as a nurse practitioner to become a go-to authority on health care policy.  In 2015, she was chosen to serve as Speaker of the House, the first woman in Iowa history to hold the position. Her father, Del Stromer, served as Speaker of the House in the 1980s, and the two are believed to be the first father-daughter pair to both hold the title of Speaker. Upmeyer was also the first woman in Iowa history to be elected House Majority Leader in 2010 and previously served as Chairwoman of the Human Resources Committee and House Minority Whip.

During her time as Speaker of the House, the Legislature enacted the largest tax cut for families and small businesses in Iowa history, passed legislation to provide

[wlm_nonmember]To read more of this article, please login or sign up for our E-Edition[/wlm_nonmember][wlm_ismember]

Iowans with additional options for affordable health coverage, and increased funding for K-12 education to an all-time high.

“I am incredibly proud of the things we have been able to accomplish for the people of Iowa during my time in the House. I know that whoever the caucus selects as Speaker will do a great job and continue to deliver results for our state. We have tremendous leaders in our caucus and I am confident in each of their abilities to take action on the priorities of Iowans.”

Clear Lake Mayor Nelson Crabb said Upmeyer’s dedication to the people of Iowa will be missed.

“She is not a politician.  She is one of us,” said Crabb.  “I feel like I can always call her— and I do.  She is easy to talk to and always makes herself available to meet and discuss issues.  She has represented North Iowa and our community very, very well.”

Crabb noted Upmeyer was instrumental in backing a local delegation promoting CLEAR Project ideals back in the 1990s.

“She wasn’t Speaker at that time, but she introduced us to those who needed to hear our message and supported our efforts very strongly,” added Crabb.

Republican Party of Iowa Chairman Jeff Kaufmann also praised Speaker Upmeyer for her years of service to the state.

“Very few House Speakers in Iowa history have created a legacy like Speaker Linda Upmeyer.  At a time when gridlock and partisan bickering grind Washington D.C. to a halt, Speaker Upmeyer delivered tangible results on behalf of Iowans, creating opportunities for them to grow their business, raise their families and keep government out of the way.  Of course, Speaker Upmeyer shattered the glass ceiling as Iowa’s first female speaker.  But more important than that, she showed young women that being a leader isn’t just about being female.  It’s about not stepping away from a challenge and forging your own way.  We thank Speaker Upmeyer for her years of service to our state and the lasting impact she has made as House speaker.

Upmeyer will continue to serve as Speaker until the beginning of the 2020 legislative session. A leadership election will be held on a future date to be determined.

[/wlm_ismember]