Orange City, Iowa — Sometimes situations force plans to be changed, and that’s what has happened with State Representative Skyler Wheeler’s re-election plans, causing him to make the decision to move to another legislative district.
Less than two-weeks age, 4th District Representative Skyler Wheeler of Orange City announced that he’d be seeking re-election in the newly-formed House District 3, which was created due to population shifts that were revealed in last year’s Census. The creation of the new District 3 tossed Wheeler and 5th District Representative Dr. Tom Jeneary of Le Mars into the same legislative district.
Wheeler tells KIWA that redistricting has been difficult for legislative incumbents.
Last week, Representative Jeneary announced his plans to also seek re-election in the newly-minted 3rd Legislative District, which would have forced a primary between the two Republican incumbents, putting the two friends and colleagues into a difficult situation, according to Wheeler.
As a result of Jeneary’s decision, Wheeler says he will now move his family from Orange City to Sioux Center, which will allow him to run in the newly-formed Iowa House District 4. District 4 is comprised of about the northern half of Sioux County, including all of Sioux Center, the part of Sheldon that lies in Sioux County, and all of Lyon County. The new House District 4 currently has no legislative incumbent residing there.
Representative Wheeler calls Legislative District 4 a “great fit” for him.
With his decision to move to Sioux Center and run as an incumbent for House District 4, Wheeler will face Kendal Zylstra of Larchwood, who announced his candidacy for the 4th District seat last week, in a Republican primary next summer.
The map of the newly-formed Iowa Legislature 4th District may be viewed below………
