Rep. Lisa Heddens, D-Ames, is leaving the Iowa Legislature during her ninth term to serve on the Story County Board of Supervisors.
Heddens said she has been interested in the position for “quite some time,” and said several people encouraged her to apply for the supervisor vacancy.
“It provides me the opportunity to work on issues that we have passed legislatively that are to be implemented at the local level,” Heddens said. “The legislature passed the new children’s mental health system. Much of it will fall on the counties, and I’d like to be at the table.”
She has been in office since 2003 and was a ranking member on the health and human services budget subcommittee. Heddens said she is proud of her work on children’s mental health and expanding services for people with disabilities.
Her appointment also means Story County will have Iowa’s first all-female board of supervisors.
“It is exciting to be a part of history, to have an all-female board,” Heddens said.
She said she will take her oath of office as a county supervisor and formally resign from the legislature next week.
The governor will call a special election to fill the District 46 seat. The race is expected to attract a lot of attention from Democrats running for president.
