Governor Culver appoints Recovery Commission
7/4/2008
14 Iowans to join chair General Ron Dardis on statewide recovery commission
DES MOINES – Today, Governor Chet Culver and Lt. Governor Patty Judge announced the members of the Rebuild Iowa Advisory Commission.
“Our reconstruction efforts will require the experience and talents of Iowans of all backgrounds,” said Governor Chet Culver. “I am pleased to name these 14 outstanding Iowans to the Rebuild Iowa commission, and I thank them for their service. These individuals will provide a guiding hand as we begin down the road to recovery. I look forward to working with this commission and its chair, General Ron Dardis, as well as all Iowans, as together we create a brighter, stronger future for Iowa.”
“The real story of the 2008 disaster is not just flooding or the tornados. It is the people,” said Lt. Governor Judge. “It is the story of Iowa. People working hard and supporting each other with a sense of pride and optimism. And as we begin to turn our attention towards the future, it will be the people of this commission, and the people of this great state, that will help us recover and move our state forward.”
The fourteen individuals on the board represent a wide range of Iowans from across the state. Four of the members were nominated by the Democratic and Republican leadership in the state House and Senate. Included on the commission are 8 Democrats, 4 Republicans and 3 Independents. They will join with commission chair Gen. Ron Dardis, who currently serves as Adjutant General of the Iowa National Guard.
Below are the names, hometowns, and party registrations of those who have been appointed to the advisory commission.
Bill Bywater Iowa City Republican
Jim Davis Charles City Democrat
Mike Earley Des Moines Democrat
Jim Fausett Coralville Democrat
William Gerhard Iowa City Democrat
Karris Golden Waterloo Independent
Brent Halling Perry Democrat
Mike King Creston Republican
Linda Larkin Fort Madison Democrat
Nitza Lopez-Castillo Columbus Junction Democrat
Carroll Reasoner Cedar Rapids Republican
Amy Truax Parkersburg Republican
Mark Wandro Des Moines Democrat
Beverly Wharton Sioux City Independent
Four members – Bywater, Davis, Wandro, and Wharton – were nominated by the Democratic and Republican legislative leadership in the state House and Senate.
Background on Commission Members
Bill Bywater – Bill Bywater, of Iowa City, is the President of Economy Advertising/TruArt Color Graphics.
Jim Davis – JIm Davis, of Charles City, is the owner of Iowa Title in Charles City and currently serves on the state Small Business Advisory Council.
Michael Earley – Mike Earley, of Des Moines, is President and Chief Executive Officer of Bankers Trust.
Jim Fausett – Jim Fausett, of Coralville, is President of the Iowa League of Cities. He has served as the Mayor of Coralville since 1996. (Upon completion of his term as president of the League of Cities, Fausett will be succeeded by the incoming President, Mayor Tim Hurley (R) of Waterloo, who has been invited to begin participating in the commission’s meetings as an ex oficio member.)
Bill Gerhard – Bill Gerhard, of Iowa City, serves as president of the Iowa State Building and Construction Trades Council.
Karris Golden – Karris Golden, of Waterloo, is assistant director of communication and marketing for Wartburg College in Waverly, and is a member of the Generation Iowa Commission.
Brent Halling – Brent Halling, of Perry, served as Deputy Secretary of the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship from 1999 to 2007, and has been a grain and livestock family farmer.
Mike King – Mike King, of Creston, is President of the Iowa State Association of Counties. He is currently the chair of the Union County Board of Supervisors. (Upon completion of his term as president of ISAC, King will be succeeded by the incoming president, Sherriff Gary Anderson (R) of Appanoose County, who has been invited to begin participating in the commission’s meetings as an ex oficio member.)
Linda Larkin – Linda Larkin, of Fort Madison, is currently vice president of operations for Agemark Assisted Living.
Nitza Lopez-Castillo -- Mitza Lopez-Castillo, of Columbus Junction, currently serves as the Assistant Director of Community Development for Louisa County.
Carroll Reasoner – Carroll Reasoner, of Cedar Rapids, is an attorney for Shuttleworth & Ingersoll, P. L. C. She is a former president of the U of I Foundation and longtime Cedar Rapids civic leader.
Amy Truax – Amy Truax, of Parkersburg, is the co-owner of a family-operated insurance agency.
Mark Wandro – Mark Wandro, of Des Moines, currently serves as Executive Vice President for Snyder and Associates in Ankeny, and previously served as director of the Iowa Department of Transportation from 1999 to 2005.
Beverly Wharton – Beverly Wharton, of Sioux City, is the President of Briar Cliff University.
Background on the Rebuild Iowa Advisory Commission
Created by Governor Culver’s executive order, the 15 member, bipartisan “Rebuild Iowa” Commission is charged with three specific tasks:
- The commission will report to the Office of the Governor and to the Legislature within 45 days of the first meeting. This report will include an assessment of the storms’ impact on the state – including our people, schools, businesses, and private and public infrastructure -- and recommend initial steps the legislative and executive branches can take to assist in recovery.
- The Commission will develop a comprehensive long-term vision for rebuilding a safer, stronger, and better Iowa. In doing so, the Commission is charged with reaching out to stakeholders at all levels of the private sector and government, and citizens of all walks of life, from all parts of the state. This innovative and inclusive process will be accompanied by recommendations for strategies to achieve that vision.
- The Commission will continue to advise on the state’s ongoing recovery efforts at the federal, state and local levels, and assess progress towards meeting the rebuilding vision.
The Commission will also be empowered to create and appoint ongoing task forces focused on specific issues, and, as necessary, develop further recommendations in these areas in order to support a strategic recovery process.
|
