(Treynor) — Political figures from across Iowa gathered in Treynor Saturday night for a unique event.
That’s because the Southwest Iowa Legislative Dinner was held at the Palace Event Center, featuring several KMAland state legislatures, state officials and representatives from federal lawmakers. East Mills High School Junior Jack Sayers coordinated the event, which also served as a scholarship fundraiser for future Southwest Iowa legislative pages. As a student, Sayers served as a page in the office of House Majority Leader Matt Windschitl. Sayers says the scholarship will help pay for students’ financial burden, including food, housing and transportation while living in Des Moines as a page, who might not otherwise have the opportunity.
“The money we raise from this event will go to students who care about their state and who care about their region,” Sayers said. “Hopefully, with this money, they will become experienced, knowledgeable and compassionate leaders for our region for decades to come.”
He added that the idea to create the scholarship stuck with him after seeing that it was the only legislative page in the immediate 13-county region in southwest Iowa. Sayers says he hopes future high school students can experience what he called a life-changing opportunity.
“Being able to see how our government works, meet the individuals who decide the direction of our state and really understand what the legislature does was an incredible opportunity,” he said. “He taught me important life lessons that I will never forget.”
State lawmakers at the weekend event included state Rep. David Sieck. Highlighting the possibilities the page program can create, Sieck recalled when he first met state representative Devon Wood, who came to the state as a page during his first year in the Iowa House .
“I had the pleasure of working with Devon and getting to know his parents, and I became very good friends with Devon and his parents,” Sieck said. “Devon worked with Reps. (Mary Ann) Hanusa and Clel Baudler; he did two legislatures at once. He did a fabulous job, he had the passion, just like Jack, and it became a state legislature.”
The legislative page program also has a personal connection for state Sen. Mark Costello, who added that his daughter was a page for him two years ago. Not only do the pages interact with students with similar interests, but Costello also adds that they will often participate in the multitude of debates held throughout a legislative session.
“I think over time they listen to the debates, learn and grow in their knowledge and understanding of where everybody stands,” Costello said. “They do things like get us the bills every morning and then when someone says ‘deliver this’ they take them everywhere.”
People from both sides of the political spectrum attended Saturday, including state Auditor Rob Sand, the only Democrat to hold statewide office. Sand applauded Sayers for welcoming diverse perspectives to the event, which he adds plays a critical role in his office, including when he hired independents and Republicans as aides to the auditor’s office.
“I think it’s good for me to work with people who don’t automatically think about things the same way I do,” Sand said. “I think it’s important when we have senior meetings in Audit, that no one asks the question, ‘how will this affect the party.’ Why would we want to ask that question? If everyone belongs to someone else, then no one will even think say it. So we don’t even have to worry about being asked in the first place.”
Sayers added that nearly $6,000 had already been donated to the scholarship before the event even began. Other lawmakers in attendance included state Sen. Tom Shipley, state Rep. Josh Turek, state Rep. Sami Scheetz and Jonathan Bladt, the Council Bluffs regional field director for U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley.
