Gov. Branstad to appear in Newton

Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad, the longest serving governor in American history and the subject of a new book, will appear from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Feb. 2 at the Newton YMCA at for a book signing, along with Mike Chapman of Newton, who wrote the book. It is called "Iowa's Record-Setting Governor: The Terry Branstad Story."

On Dec. 14, 2015, Branstad surpassed the record of 7,642 days, which had been held by George Clinton of New York, back in the late 1790s and early 1800s. Branstad is far and away ahead of any governor in modern times, and most political experts predict it will be very difficult to break his record.

Branstad was the youngest governor in Iowa history and is one of just two state governors in U.S. history to come back into office after stepping away. He is 20-0 in elections and currently is in his sixth term.

Chapman is the author of 28 books, and was publisher of the Newton Daily News from 1998 to 2002, when he resigned to become executive director of the International Wrestling Institute and Museum in Newton (now located in Waterloo). He is the founder of Iowa History Journal magazine, and has appeared on numerous radio and talk shows over the past two decades. He and his wife, Bev, live in Newton.

Chapman worked on the book for 18 months, interviewing more than 30 people, meeting with the governor nearly a dozen times and reading hundreds of newspaper clips and articles.

The softcover books are $14.95 plus sales tax. Both the governor and Chapman will be available to sign the book during the hour-long event. All proceeds from book sales will go to the Iowa History Fund and to various scholarship funds set up by the governor.