Walker announces Iowa leadership team

Republican presidential hopeful Scott Walker announced the endorsements of 65 Iowans on Wednesday, including 15 state lawmakers.

Walker, the governor of Wisconsin, is banking heavily on Iowa, and in an announcement Wednesday, his campaign noted that more than a third of the Republicans in the state Senate - nine senators in all - are part of his team.

'Our Iowa leadership team includes a diverse range of party activists, elected officials, and business leaders from every region of the state who are recognized as effective, positive leaders in their communities and throughout Iowa,” Walker said in a statement.

The state senators who endorsed Walker are Jerry Behn of Boone, Mark Costello of Imogene, Randy Feenstra of Hull, Julian Garrett of Indianola, Mark Segebart of Vail, Tom Shipley of Nodaway, Amy Sinclair of Allerton, Brad Zaun of Urbandale and Dan Zumbach of Ryan.

In the House, these lawmakers endorsed Walker: Terry Baxter of Garner, Brian Best of Glidden, Dave Deyoe of Nevada, Dean Fisher of Garwin, Lee Hein of Monticello and John Landon of Ankeny.

Former state senators Nancy Boettger of Harlan and Dave Mulder of Sioux Center also are on Walker's team, the campaign announced. There also are county officials and activists on the list.

Locally, Muscatine County Attorney Alan Ostergren and Chuck Brockmann of Long Grove are on Walker's leadership team.