Gary Worthan
86th General Assembly portrait (2015)
Member of the Iowa House of Representatives
from the 11th district
52nd (2007–2013)
Assumed office
January 3, 2007
Preceded byMary Lou Freeman
Personal details
Born (1954-01-11) January 11, 1954 (age 70)
Storm Lake, Iowa, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
ResidenceStorm Lake, Iowa
Alma materIowa State University
ProfessionFarmer
Websitelegis.iowa.gov/...

Gary Worthan (born January 11, 1954) is the Iowa State Representative from the 11th District. He has served in the Iowa House of Representatives since 2007, having won a December 13, 2006 special election to replace the deceased Mary Lou Freeman, who had run unopposed in the general election.[1][2] Smith was born and lives in Storm Lake, Iowa. He has an A.A. in farm operations from Iowa State University.

As of January 2013, Worthan serves on several committees in the Iowa House – the Appropriations committee, the Judiciary committee, the Public Safety committee, and the Veterans Affairs committee. He also serves as chair of the Justice System Appropriations Subcommittee.

In 2018, he was instrumental in killing a pilot program that aimed to limit the number of people awaiting trial in jail because they cannot afford bail.[3] Worthan was chairman of the subcommittee that oversaw the judicial budget;[4] the editorial board of the Des Moines Register, which called the pilot program a "worthwhile experiment in criminal justice reform" criticized Worthan for scrapping the program only weeks before the end of a legislative session ("a time-honored method for legislators and lobbyists to try to slip provisions into law with little notice or public scrutiny"), and the lawmakers for protecting "special interests".[5] On August 30, 2019 CNN reported that Josh Lederman , a co owner of Lederman Bail Bonds, had made significant donations to Worthan's Campaign, alongside donations to other Iowa Republicans.[6]

In April 2019, Worthan proposed legislation that would curtail the powers of the Iowa Attorney General to limit the office's ability to take part in lawsuits.[7] Tom Miller, the Democratic Attorney General, had joined six lawsuits against Trump administration policies, such as the family separation policy.[7]

Electoral history

Election Political result Candidate Party Votes %
Iowa House of Representatives special election, 2006 [1]
District 52		Republican hold Gary WorthanRepublican2,003
Kate Logan Democratic791
Iowa House of Representatives primary elections, 2008 [8]
District 52		Republican Gary Worthan*Republicanunopposed
Iowa House of Representatives general elections, 2008 [9]
District 52
Turnout: 11,917		Republican hold Gary Worthan*Republican7,36261.78%
Russell P. Camerer Democratic3,84332.24%
Iowa House of Representatives primary elections, 2010 [10]
District 52		Republican Gary Worthan*Republicanunopposed
Iowa House of Representatives general elections, 2010 [11]
District 52
Turnout: 8,635		Republican hold Gary Worthan*Republican6,07670.36%
Danuta Hutchins Democratic2,17525.19%
Iowa House of Representatives primary elections, 2012 [12]
District 11		Republican Gary Worthan*Republicanunopposed
Iowa House of Representatives general elections, 2012 [13]
District 11		Republican (newly redistricted) Gary Worthan*Republicanunopposed

References

  1. ^ a b "Republicans Hold Onto Iowa House Seat". KCCI Channel 8 – Des Moines. 2006-12-14. Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2007-07-09.
  2. ^ "Official Results Report – Statewide, 2006 General Election 11-07-2006" (PDF). Iowa Secretary of State. 2006-11-21. p. 38. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-07-15. Retrieved 2011-09-19.
  3. ^ Gruber-Miller, Stephen (January 22, 2018). "New tool aims to reduce jail population: 'You shouldn't be in jail just because you're poor'". Des Moines Register.
  4. ^ Gruber-Miller, Stephen (April 20, 2018). "Bill language would nix Polk County jail risk assessment pilot program". Des Moines Register.
  5. ^ "Editorial: Lawmakers should not kill justice reform project". Des Moines Register. April 24, 2018.
  6. ^ "Transcripts". CNN.com. 2019-08-30. Retrieved 2022-06-10.
  7. ^ a b "Republican lawmakers may restrict Democrat Iowa AG Tom Miller's power to join lawsuits against Trump". Des Moines Register. Retrieved 2019-04-25.
  8. ^ "Official Results Report – Statewide, 2008 Primary Election-06-03-2008 Party: All" (PDF). Iowa Secretary of State. 2008-06-19. p. 178. Retrieved 2013-01-15.
  9. ^ "State of Iowa Official Canvass Summary, November 4, 2008 General Election" (PDF). Iowa Secretary of State. p. 48. Retrieved 2013-01-15.
  10. ^ "Official Results Report, 2010 Primary Election held Tuesday, June 8th 2010" (PDF). Iowa Secretary of State. 2010-07-01. Retrieved 2013-01-15.
  11. ^ "Official Results Report, General Election held Tuesday, November 2nd 2010" (PDF). Iowa Secretary of State. 2010-11-23. p. 93. Retrieved 2013-01-15.
  12. ^ "2012 Primary Election Canvass Summary" (PDF). Iowa Secretary of State. p. 82. Retrieved 2013-01-15.
  13. ^ "2012 General Election Canvass Summary" (PDF). Iowa Secretary of State. p. 57. Retrieved 2013-01-15.

External links

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Iowa House of Representatives Preceded byMary Lou Freeman 52nd District 2007–2013 Succeeded byvacant Preceded byHenry Rayhons 11th District 2013–present Succeeded byIncumbent
Members of the Iowa House of Representatives
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