Upmeyer will seek re-election to Iowa House

Speaker Linda Upmeyer (R-Clear Lake) has announced her intention to seek re-election to the Iowa House in 2016.  Upmeyer currently represents House District 54, which covers all of Franklin County, as well as portions of Butler and Cerro Gordo counties.

  “It has been an honor to serve the people of Butler, Cerro Gordo, and Franklin counties, and I would be humbled should they choose to send me back to Des Moines to fight for their priorities,” said Upmeyer.

  First elected in 2002, Upmeyer is serving her seventh term in the Iowa House.  She grew up on a family farm before attending North Iowa Area Community College (NIACC), the University of Iowa, and Drake University.  She has a Master’s Degree in Nursing and is a certified Family Nurse Practitioner.  She is a former trustee for NIACC, and a former board member of both the Iowa and National Associations of Community College Trustees.

  Upmeyer was elected earlier this year as the Speaker of the Iowa House of Representatives, the first woman in Iowa history to serve as the presiding officer in the chamber.  She previously served as the House Majority Leader from 2011-2015, also becoming the first woman to serve in that role.

  Since becoming House Majority Leader, Upmeyer has played a vital role in several major legislative accomplish-

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ments.  During her tenure leading the House, the Legislature enacted significant property tax relief by reforming the state’s property tax system, and also passed education reform to return Iowa’s schools to top in the nation.  In addition, the Legislature has upheld responsible budgeting practices like spending less than the state collects in revenue and not spending one-time dollars to fund ongoing needs, which have put Iowa in a solid financial position.

  This session, Upmeyer has led the charge to couple with the federal tax code to prevent a $95 million tax increase on a variety of Iowans including small businesses, farmers, teachers, college students, and homeowners.

  Upmeyer says she will continue to build on these successes and more:

  “In order to move our state forward we must continue to make sure government is no longer overreaching on Iowa businesses and that it’s staying out of the pockets of the taxpayers,” said Upmeyer.  “We have made great progress over the last five years to make Iowa a great place to live, work, raise a family, or own a business, but there is more we can do.  I will continue to encourage bold and innovative solutions for our economy while giving the taxpayers a seat at the table.”

  Upmeyer and her husband, Doug, have five grown children and five grandchildren.

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