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Newhard is youngest everBy T-H Staff WriterDES MOINES — Northeast Iowa continued its tradition of fielding youth in the Iowa Legislature Monday, but went tradition one better by fielding the youngest Iowan ever to serve in the legislature.Anamosa Rep Scott D, Newhard, who was 21 Aug. 23, is the youngest legislator in Iowa's 126-year history, Iowa House Chief Clerk William Harbor said Monday, the first day for the 65th General Assembly.But Newhard only continues an area tradition. Sen. Mike Blouin of Dubuque was only 23 when he began his legislative career in the House in 1969. and in 1966 former Dubuque Sen. John Walsh, at 26, was the youngest senator ever electedIowa law requires that a state representative be 21 or a state senator 25 on the day he is sworn inNewhard, however, preferred to put the question of age on the back burner.“I don't think it’s especially significant that I’m the youngest legislator ever,” the Democrat said. There is no reason why age alone should determine who should sit in the legislature ”He vowed, though, to push a proposed constitutional amendment that would lower to 18 the age for service in the legislature.“I really do hope to get people my age or younger involved, he said. If people think an 18-year-old would make a goodScott D. Newhardrepresentative, he should be able toserve.”Newhard, who quit his junior year at Iowa Wesleyan College to join the legislature, had to win both a primary and general election fight to take his seat.He said the Democratic party is more open to young Iowans than its Republican counterpart.As a Democrat in a predominantly -Republican district, «the Democrats welcomed me,” Newhard said. Republicans might have said: ’Go away, kid, you got to be 55 and have established a business.’ ”Newhard’s 23rd House District includes the southern half of Jones County, two townships—including Maquoketa—in Jackson County, and parts of Cedar and Clinton counties.A fellow freshmen representative—Reid W. Crawford, R-Ames—is also 21. But he is six months older than Newhard
Newspaper Details
Dubuque Telegraph Herald
Dubuque, Iowa, US
Tue, Jan 09, 1973
Page 17
Full Page
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California, DZ 17 Feb 2023
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