Two state legislators — one from western Iowa and one from eastern Iowa — are being honored with this year’s Herbert Hoover Uncommon Public Service Award. Nancy Boettger of Harlan is the award winner in the state senate.  “Wow. I’m overwhelmed,” Boettger said. “When I saw my family here this morning I never dreamed that that was this. Sarah just said: ‘We wanted to be all here, together, at one time while you were still here.'”

Boettger has served in the Senate since 1995, but she is not seeking reelection in November.  “Thanks so very much by this honor. I’m really overwhelmed and kind of speechless here, but when I get a chance — I’ll get another chance to talk to the senate now before I retire. Then you’ll hear some things from me,” Boettger said, with a laugh. “It’s your momma speaking.” Senate President Pam Jochum a Democrat from Dubuque, paid tribute to Boettger.  “As Senator Boettger retires from the senate this year, one of her nominators said, and I quote: ‘She will be remembered by her peers on both sides of the aisle as honorable, hard-working, generous and a sincere public servant,'” Jochum said.

Each year a member of the Senate and a member of the House receive the Hoover Award. This year’s House winner is Representative Steven Olson of DeWitt, a farmer who was first elected in 2002. Prior to his legislative service, Olson served two terms on the Calmus School Board. Herbert Hoover, the man for whom the award is named, is an Iowa native who saved the lives of well over a billion people in 57 countries when he ran post-war relief efforts in Europe.

(Radio Iowa)