Newton republicans give Heartsill warm sendoff

On Saturday, Greg Heartsill had an epiphany. Walking in a small town parade in support of the man he’s endorsed as his replacement, the former Iowa House District 28 state representative realized he’d tapped back into a feeling he’d nearly forgotten — he wasn’t stressed.

“There was no stress, I was just hanging out,” Heartsill told the crowd at the Jasper County Republican Party’s monthly meeting on Monday night.

The Columbia Republican, who announced his retirement earlier this year, was back in Newton for one last farewell barbecue. Former colleagues took turns speaking in front of the capacity crowd huddled under the west shelter at Maytag Park, telling stories about Heartsill. State party chair Jeff Kaufmann, Sen. Amy Sinclair, R-Allerton, Sen. Jason Shultz, R-Shleswig, and Rep. Sandy Salmon, R-Janesville, took turns telling their favorite Heartsill stories.

Sinclair, who has worked side by side with Heartsill for years, told the audience it was the former state representative’s tireless effort that resulted in passage of this year’s fetal heartbeat bill. When Sinclair first entered the Senate, a mentor advised her not to trust anyone until they’d given her a reason to do so. After meeting Heartsill, the pair quickly formed a bond, forged over Saturdays during the legislative session where they’d meet with constituents together.

“I’ve been blessed to know Greg. He’s given me more reasons to trust him than anyone,” Sinclair said.

Working together, the pair quickly built a Saturday routine, one that involved plenty of lighthearted joking. Both Sinclair and Heartsill have sons the same age, and the pair would compete to see whose son was the first to arrive at big milestones.

When Sinclair announced her son was getting married in October, Heartsill beat her to the punch — his son was married in July. They also figured out the best way to handle the crowds at constituent forums — they brought coffee and cookies to voters.

“If you bring coffee and cookies, they say less,” Sinclair said. “Angie (Heartsill) always brings coffee and cookies.”

When late night deliberations kept legislators at the capitol putting the finishing touches on the 2018 legislative session, it was Heartsill who helped push the fetal heartbeat bill through the house. On Monday, Sinclair credited Heartsill with laying the “foundation” for and tirelessly working to gather votes in support of the controversial bill, signed into law earlier this year by Gov. Kim Reynolds.

“I can’t imagine a partner who’s been more supportive and helpful than Greg Heartsill,” Sinclair said. “He always had my back, and I’m so proud to have worked alongside him.”

Colleagues heaped praise on Heartsill Monday night. Salmon thanked the audience for sending Heartsill to the legislature, while Kaufmann, the party chair, told voters it was Heartsill’s hard work and integrity that helped set the stage for President Trump during the 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland.

“I don’t know how you guys define a Republican, but to me a Republican is Greg Heartsill,” Kaufmann said.

Even though the opening acts may have generated plenty of laughs, it was Heartsill’s speech that brought the house down Monday night. Modest to a fault, Heartsill opened by personally thanking each of his fellow legislators who’d spoken on his behalf.

“I’m very humbled and honored by this,” Heartsill said. “I don’t even know where to start.”

Heartsill may have offered high praise for his former co-workers, but he saved the best for his wife, Angie. The mother of his 10 children, Angie Heartsill also served as her husband’s clerk in the legislature, but her most important role may have been the encouragement she gave her husband to get active in politics.

“I was a flaming moderate when my wife convinced me to come to caucuses back in 1996,” Heartsill said. “She told me, ‘Greg, you’re a conservative Republican,’” Heartsill said.

A couple of online tests confirmed Angie’s theory, and before long, both Heartsills were active in local politics. When redistricting and retirement left a vacancy in his district, friends and family members urged him to run for office. After winning his first election in 2012, Heartsill went on to serve three terms in the Iowa House, with Angie at his side, before retiring this year.

“Angie’s always been my greatest cheerleader. She’s always cleaned me up and bandaged my wounds and sent me out of the door,” Heartsill said.

Heartsill, “deeply humbled” by the outpouring of well-wishers at the Monday’s event, urged members of the Republican Party to stay engaged in their fight, and to keep working towards their goals in the state legislature. He also delivered one last shot across to the bow to Sinclair.

“Thank you for all that you do, but don’t forget, you work for me,” Heartsill told the senator, as a grin crept across his face. “She has to listen to me now. I live in her district.”

Contact David Dolmage at 641-792-3121 ext. 6532 or ddolmage@newtondailynews.com