When the Iowa legislature gavels into session in January, one of the newly-elected members from northwest Iowa will also be the youngest lawmaker. Twenty-three-year-old Skyler Wheeler of Orange City will represent District Four in the Iowa House. Wheeler, a Republican, faced a write-in candidate and won by a big margin. He says he was surprised by some of the results last Tuesday.

“I did have a very good feeling we were going to win but I did not see the Iowa Senate flipping that way,” Wheeler says. “Some people said it might be 25-24 with Johnson as the independent, I heard all sorts of different things, but they took six seats. That was stunning to me and obviously, Donald Trump’s win.” Wheeler says there are a number of issues that are important to him where he’d like to see the legislature take action.

“I want a Religious Freedom Restoration Act. I also am looking to push for things like Constitutional Carry and Stand Your Ground as well as defunding Planned Parenthood and fighting the Common Core state standards. We can look into the transgender bathroom type of deal, too, and obviously, trying to cut taxes across the board for businesses and just individuals.”

Wheeler is an account representative for Staples Promotional Products in Orange City and is a graduate of Northwestern College. Wheeler says he would like to see more investment in the state’s community college system and will also push for a balanced budget.

(Radio Iowa)