Ray Gaesser, Chair
Term: July 1, 2021, to June 30, 2025
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Ray, a Republican, has been a farmer for over 51 years, his family owns and operates Gaesser farms in Corning, a 5400 acre operation made up of soybean and corn rotation.
He is a conservationist and believes that caring for the land is a priority. Gaesser farms has been 100% no-till since 1992 and most of the land is fertilized with manure from neighboring livestock and poultry farms. His family’s operation continues to test and implement the latest technology, innovations, and practices in equipment and seeds to grow more while preserving and enhancing our resources.
Ray has advocated locally, nationally and globally for Iowa and US Agriculture as president and leader of the Iowa Soybean Association, American Soybean Association, North American Climate Smart Agriculture Alliance, Solutions from the Land, and many other boards and organizations.
He currently serves as Co-chair of the Iowa Conservation Infrastructure Initiative advancing environmental practices toward meeting the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy. Ray’s awards include: Iowa Master Farmer 2012, Adams County and Iowa Conservation Awards, Lenox Iowa Good Citizen Award, and American Soybean Distinguished Leader 2018.
Bill Anderson, Vice Chair
Term: July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2028
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Bill, a Republican, serves as the Executive Director of Cherokee Area Economic Development Corporation.
Bill and his wife, Angie, were married in 2007 and have a son and two daughters. They own and operate Anderson Professional Services, an accounting business with locations in Cherokee and Sioux City.
Bill was born and raised in Sioux City. He is a graduate of Sioux City Public Schools and received an associate’s degree from Northeast Community College. He enlisted in the Iowa Army National Guard in 1994 and was Honorably Discharged in 2002. He served as a congressional aide in Iowa for 18 years. Bill was elected to the Iowa Senate in 2010 representing District 27 (Cherokee, Plymouth and Woodbury), and following reapportionment, District 3 (Plymouth and Woodbury). During his time in the legislature, he served on the Transportation, Commerce, Ways and Means committees and the Transportation, Infrastructure and Capitals appropriations subcommittee.
The Anderson’s are active members of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Cherokee. Bill is a member of the Knights of Columbus, Rotary, Kiwanis and American Legion. He serves on the board of directors of Mid-Sioux Opportunity. He previously served on the Judicial Nominating Commission and Plains Area Mental Health board.
Sally Stutsman
Term: July 1, 2021, to June 30, 2025
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Stutsman, a Democrat, was born and raised in Fort Dodge, Iowa where she graduated from Fort Dodge High School and Iowa Central Community College. She transferred to Iowa State University where she earned a BS degree in Sociology. While at Iowa State she met her husband, Roger, who also graduated from Iowa State with a degree in Farm Operations. After they were married, they moved to a farm in southern Johnson County, west of Hills, Iowa where they still live and farm. Sally and her husband are currently retired.
Sally worked as a social worker for the Iowa Department of Human Service as an adoption investigator. After leaving the Department she became Executive Director of Johnson County Community Coordinated Child Care and later became Coordinator of the Volunteer Action Center of Johnson County. In 1994 Stutsman successfully ran for the Johnson County Board of Supervisors. She served on the Board of Supervisors for five terms until being elected to the Iowa House of Representatives in November of 2014. She served two terms in the Iowa Legislature, retiring at the end of her second term in December of 2018. While in the Iowa House Sally served on the transportation, agriculture, appropriations, state government and health and human services committees. She was a founding member of the House Democratic Rural Caucus. Sally served on the Air Service Retention and Expansion Committee as one of the legislative representatives. Sally was a governor appointee to the Council of Human Services
Sally has been involved in a number of community organizations including Johnson County Decategorization Project, Johnson County Community Foundation, Housing Trust Fund of Johnson County, Board member and chair of the Oaknoll Retirement Center, Iowa City Area Chamber Community Leadership Program where she served as Chair of the Ag Session, CARET (Council for Agricultural Research, Extension and Teaching) representative for Iowa State University, member of Sharon Center United Methodist Church, Old Capitol Kiwanis, Chapter E-P.E.O. where she served as president, treasurer of Friends of Johnson County Conservation, treasurer of Octagon Barn Questers and Board member of the Johnson County League of Women Voters.
Sally and her family were named as Iowa City Area Chamber of Commerce Farm Family of the Year. She was named Johnson County Child Advocate of the Year, Corridor Business Journal Women of Influence, and Ovation honoree of the Iowa Women’s Foundation.
The Stutsman’s have one son, Michael, who is deceased and a daughter-in-law and granddaughter who live next door on the family farm.
Richard Arnold
Term: July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2027
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Richard Arnold, a Republican, served eighteen years in the Iowa legislature retiring in 2012. He was assigned to both the transportation and natural resource committees for 18 years and chaired both committees for a number of years.
Richard grew up on a farm near Russell, Iowa, graduating from Russell High School and Iowa State University with a degree in animal science. Richard served six years, two of those years as chair on the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission. He has also been active in local government as well as state government. He served on the Russell City Council and also two terms on the Lucas County Board of Supervisors.
Today Richard continues to farm the family farm, and also drives part-time for Hy-Vee Inc. He has traveled to nearly all the Hy-Vee stores in Iowa, by way of both interstate 80 and 35 and most of our state highways.
Richard is married to Cheryl, a retired Hy-Vee distribution manager. They have been blessed with five children and 11 grandchildren.
Linda Juckette
Term: March 1, 2019, to June 30, 2026
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Linda, a Republican is currently the President & CEO of Capstone Management, and President of Prairie Valley Farms.
Born and raised in Waukee Iowa, Linda graduated from Waukee High School. After she married her husband Tom Juckette, Linda ran Prairie Valley Farms running a successful thoroughbred breeding operation along with the farm grain, clear hylum used for tofu production in Japan, and organic hay operations.
Tom was part owner in Juckette Management Services building and managing long term care facilities in Florida, Nebraska, Missouri and Iowa since 1967. Linda’s passion for care of the elderly led her to open Capstone Management in 2014 managing long term skilled facilities across Iowa.
Linda has been active in Iowa Health Care Association serving on the legislative committee advocating for senior care in Iowa and Washington D.C. She has also been active in the Des Moines Community Playhouse and leading worship through music ministry at Hope Lutheran Church in West Des Moines for over 20 years.
Linda and her late husband Tom had one son together. Cole and his wife Nikki live in Lincoln Nebraska. Cole graduated in May 2019 from the University of Nebraska with a Masters Degree in Anthropology.
Mary Mulgrew Gronen
Term: July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2028
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Mary, a Democrat, is Vice President of Gronen, a Dubuque real estate development company (1999 – present), which also includes both construction management and property management divisions.
Mary co-founded and co-owned Travel Headquarters of Dubuque in 1984, a full-service travel agency. During this time, Mary served a six year term as a member of the Dubuque Airport Commission.
She has served on the Four Mounds Foundation Board of Directors since 1995. Four Mounds is a non-profit organization whose mission is to preserve the natural, architectural and historical resources of the Four Mounds estate, educate with hands-on opportunities for youth and community, and serve through leadership, stewardship, and innovative partnerships.
Mary is a founding member of Smart Growth Development created in 2009. Smart Growth is an Iowa bi-partisan non-profit coalition which has advocated for the continuation, growth, and accessibility of financing programs that make historic rehabilitation projects possible. The diverse membership includes developers, municipalities, Main Street programs, Chambers of Commerce, architects, contractors, accountants, attorneys, preservation organizations, and economic development groups.
She is also a founding member of Heritage Works Dubuque (2015) and continues to serve on its Board of Directors. Heritage Works is a non-profit organization whose vision is to develop an authentic, vibrant, and culturally rich community through Education & Advocacy, Historic Tax Credit Partnerships, and Consulting Services.
Mary is a founding member of Mississippi Driftless Regional Alliance and Dubuque Forward (2021) and serves as an Officer on the Board of Directors. This group of private-sector and non-profit leaders serve as catalysts to move projects forward, and whose mission it is to make Dubuque a community of choice where all people can thrive.
She and her husband, John, have been married since 1991, and have worked side by side as partners in Gronen since 1999. They have two sons and one grandchild.
Brian Quirk
Term: July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2029
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Brian, a Democrat, is currently General Manager of New Hampton Municipal Utilities providing power distribution, power generation, and fiber ISP service to the citizens of New Hampton. Brian also served in the Iowa Legislature from 2000 – 2012 serving on commerce (chair 2010 – 2012), ways and means, transportation (chair 2008 -2010), transportation Infrastructure, and state government.
Brian grew up in his family’s electrical contracting business, New Hampton Electric, and graduated from New Hampton High School in 1986. After high school, Brian enlisted in the United States Army and served for 5 years (1986 – 1991) doing tours of duty: Operation Reforger, (Holland and Germany), Operation Just Cause (Panama) with the 1st Cavalry, DMZ (South Korea) with 8th Army, Operation Desert Shield/Storm (Iraq) with the 101st Airborne.
Upon Honorable discharge from service, Brian earned his AA and AS from North Iowa Area Community College and studied Electrical Engineering at Mankato State. He then met his wife, Anita, and married in 1994. Brian worked at his family’s electrical contracting business as a master electrician and project estimator. Anita began her career as an educator with the New Hampton Community School district. Brian and Anita are blessed with two daughters and one granddaughter. Celena, Biology major from University of Northern Iowa and 1st Lieutenant with the National Guard. Claire, United States Airforce Cadet at Iowa State, majoring in Aerospace Engineering.
Brian is involved with several community organizations as board member of Joint Action Agency, North Iowa Municipal Electric Cooperative Agency, Commander of local American Legion Post, past president of local Rotary chapter, Lion’s club, New Hampton Chamber of Commerce, New Hampton Industrial Development Board, Chickasaw boosters, Knights of Columbus, and Lector at Holy Family Church.