Northwest Iowa — Two people from our area have been named to boards and commissions by the governor.
According to the Office of Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, a Larchwood man has been named to the Empower Rural Iowa Initiative Board. Stephen Simons is the Lyon County Economic Development Director and will serve on the board for the Initiative.
The Governor’s ERI initiative was created by executive order in 2018. It is a partnership with the Iowa Rural Development Council (IRDC) and co-chaired by Lt. Governor Adam Gregg and IRDC Chair Sandy Ehrig. The Empower Rural Iowa Act also created three task forces, which develop recommendations for Gov. Kim Reynolds in advance of each legislative session. They are the Investing in Rural Iowa Task Force, which deals with rural housing shortage, derelict and dilapidated buildings, online business presence, business transition planning, and entrepreneurship; the Growing Rural Iowa Task Force, which deals with leadership development in rural communities, creating welcoming communities, and attracting and retaining residents or workers; and the Connecting Rural Iowa Task Force, which deals with financing broadband connectivity, leveraging connectivity, and remote worker readiness.
The other northwest Iowan was named to the State Judicial Nomination Commission. She is Ashley Hoegh of Hawarden, who teaches at the West Sioux Community School District.
The State Judicial Nominating Commission interviews applicants and selects nominees for appointment to the Iowa Supreme Court and the Iowa Court of Appeals. This commission is composed of eight commissioners elected by lawyers (two representing each congressional district) and nine commissioners appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Iowa Senate. Hoegh’s nomination is subject to approval by the Iowa Senate.
