WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley today announced that Aaron McKay has been named state director of the six Grassley offices located in Iowa.  The state director is based in Des Moines.

Grassley said his state offices - located in Cedar Rapids, Council Bluffs, Davenport, Des Moines, Sioux City and Waterloo -- are central to providing Iowans with services including assistance with federal agencies such as the Social Security Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, FEMA, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.  Constituent services specialists also provide passport help and consider applications to the U.S. military service academies, among other assistance.  Regional directors also work in each of these offices as part of Grassley's commitment to fostering the process of representative government and active dialogue between elected officials and the people at the grass roots who they represent.

McKay will succeed Robert Renaud who has served as state director for 14 years and will retire on Sept. 30.  Renaud was Grassley's economic development director and regional director for four years before holding the position of state director.  "It has been a privilege to work for Iowa's senior senator. He exemplifies what Iowans expect in a public servant and expects his staff to be diligent in serving Iowans," Renaud said.  Renaud and his wife reside in Mitchellville.

McKay has worked for Grassley since 2001 as the Des Moines-based regional director and covering 21 of Iowa's 99 counties.  McKay previously served as a constituent service specialist for Grassley in Waterloo and as a staff assistant in Washington, D.C.  Between his positions with Grassley in Washington and Waterloo, McKay worked for the House of Representatives National Security Committee.  "I am honored to serve the people of Iowa as Senator Grassley's state director and will work to echo his strong commitment of public service," said McKay.

McKay is a graduate of the Upper Iowa University in Fayette.  He and his wife reside in Pleasant Hill.

(DES MOINES) - Gov. E. Terry Branstad today signed a proclamation directing a special election to be held on Nov. 3, 2015, for Iowa House District 5, following the resignation of Chuck Soderberg who recently announced his resignation after being named as the new executive vice president for the Iowa Association of Electric Cooperatives.

House District 5 is comprised of Plymouth and a portion of Woodbury counties. The district includes the communities of Akron, Hinton, Le Mars, Lawton, Moville, and Pierson.  A full district map can be found here.

Iowa Code 69.14 outlines the authority given to the governor to set a special election. The proclamation setting the date of the special election can be found here.

(DES MOINES) - Jimmy Centers, who has served as communications director for Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds since December 2013, and has worked for Branstad-Reynolds in various capacities since 2009, will depart the governor's office to pursue a career in the private sector. Centers' last day in the Branstad-Reynolds administration will be Friday, September 25. His new private sector opportunity will be announced at a later date by his new employer.

Ben Hammes (Ham-mess), who has served as the director of appointments to Iowa's boards and commissions and as a policy advisor in the Branstad-Reynolds administration since January 2014, will succeed Centers as communications director.

"It has been an incredible honor to serve as the communications director for Governor Branstad and Lieutenant Governor Reynolds and I will be forever grateful for the opportunity to serve in their administration," said Centers. "I will always remember the governor's and lieutenant governor's tireless commitment and passion to serve the people of Iowa and their steadfast commitment to do what is right for the state of Iowa. Ben Hammes will do an exceptional job as the new communications director for the administration."

Branstad and Reynolds offered their appreciation for Centers' service.

"Lieutenant Governor Reynolds and I have enjoyed working with Jimmy since 2009 when he served as a field director in Northeast Iowa on our 2010 gubernatorial campaign," said Branstad. "Jimmy has served in several capacities in our administration, including scheduling, deputy communications director and communications director. In each role, he brought energy, dedication and a tremendous work ethic while always looking for ways to evolve and improve our office's communications delivery and reach. We wish him well in his new endeavor and are pleased to bring Ben Hammes into a new role in which we are confident he will excel."

"Over the years, Jimmy has been an asset as a communications adviser and spokesman who always remembered that government serves the taxpayers," said Reynolds. "Jimmy's ability to effectively communicate in situations that require a rapid response, coupled with his ability to craft and implement effective communications plans for a variety of situations, will serve him well in his new career in the private sector. Though we're disappointed to see Jimmy move on, we know that we have a talented, capable professional in Ben Hammes, who is ready to move into his new role."

Jimmy Centers, 28, is a Peoria, Ill., native and a graduate of the University of Iowa.  During his time leading communications for Gov. Branstad and Lt. Gov. Reynolds, Centers leveraged emerging social media like Instagram, Snapchat, Meerkat and Periscope while managing and crafting governor's office messaging, coordinating communications from Iowa executive branch departments and agencies, writing speeches for the governor and lt. governor, organizing hundreds of events and press conferences, upholding the administration's steadfast commitment to transparency by handling all media inquiries, and being the on-the-record spokesman for Branstad and Reynolds. A photo of Centers can be found here.

Ben Hammes, 29, is a Story City, Iowa, native and graduated with a degree in political communications from the University of Northern Iowa in 2008.  Upon graduation, Hammes worked for Senator Charles Grassley in Washington, D.C. for just short of 3 years as a staff assistant and legislative correspondent.  He returned to Iowa in 2011 and worked for Congressman Tom Latham both in an official capacity and on his re-election campaigns until his announced retirement in late 2013.  Hammes has since served the administration in variety of capacities.  He and his wife, Morgan, reside in Clive.   A photo of Hammes can be found here.

The Des Moines / Henry County Labor Council, AFL-CIO, will once again hold its annual Burlington Labor Day Picnic at the 40 & 8 Park (located directly behind the Bee's Stadium or Community Field), 27l2Mt. Pleasant St., Burlington, Ia. on September 7, 2015 (4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.).

This year we will again have a jump house and other family activities to try and make the picnic fun for everyone and all ages.  The picnic is one of the council's longest standing traditions. This year will be the second year where the local unions will compete to see who has the largest turnout of members at the event which entitles them to hold the Milt Branchini award for the year. This is a fun competition geared towards getting everyone involved.

Due to the large crowds expected for Hillary Clinton, the event itself will be FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

However, anyone wanting to stay for the food and activities can purchase tickets are priced at $5.00 for a single, $10.00 for family, and $100.00 for a block of 10 tickets. Many of our locals purchase the block of tickets and distribute them to their members so they may attend. Additional tickets may be purchased at the picnic as well.

Hillary Clinton has long been a champion for working families. However, her appearance at the picnic should not construe an endorsement from the labor council. The authority for making Presidential Endorsement remains with the National AFL-CIO and International Unions.

To learn more, please contact Ryan Drew, 319-759-3188 or email rdrew@local150.org or Jon Garst 319-759-3814 

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