Former Monticello council member announces campaign for Iowa House 96 seat

CEDAR RAPIDS - Former Monticello city council member Reenie Montgomery has announced plans to challenge Rep. Lee Hein, R-Monticello, in Iowa House 96, which covers Delaware County as well as Monticello and Anamosa in Jones County.

'After serving on the city council and working with law enforcement in both Delaware and Jones counties, I'm ready to serve our communities at the State Capitol,” Montgomery said in her announcement Tuesday.

'I understand the challenges we face to keep our communities safe,” said Montgomery, who lives in Manchester where she works for the Manchester Police Department as a dispatcher for the Delaware County Communications Center. She also is the union steward for Teamsters Local 238.

Her priorities as a legislator would be the economic security of families in Jones and Delaware counties, increasing state support for schools, job creation, affordable health care, including mental health, and value-added agriculture.

She'll be facing Hein, who was first elected in 2010 and recently appointed chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, which he has served on since 2011.

'It's time for new leadership in the Iowa House that will put aside politics, listen and do what's best for us,” Montgomery said.

Montgomery lived in Monticello for many years, where she served on the city council and was selected by the mayor to be mayor pro tem. She was volunteer EMT with the Monticello Ambulance Service, a mentor in the Monticello schools and reserve police officer with the Monticello Police Department.

She also worked in Anamosa as an administrative assistant, reserve officer and FEMA coordinator.

Montgomery grew up in Earlville and Lake Delhi and attended Xavier Elementary before graduating from Maquoketa Valley High School while working at her family's small business.

She has two stepchildren with her husband, Tim.