–Former Iowa Governor and U.S. Ambassador to China Terry Branstad served as the featured speaker at a fundraising event for the Dolores Mertz Scholarship Fund Saturday in Algona. Branstad says there are many reasons he had a tremendous relationship with Mertz, who represented Kossuth County in the Iowa House for over 2 decades.
Even though they represented different parties at the statehouse, Branstad says he never hesitated to contact Mertz.
Branstad says that when Mertz served, there weren’t many women in the Iowa House, especially in roles of leadership.
Branstad got his start in state politics serving in the Iowa House in a district that covered parts of Kossuth County, allowing him to develop relationships with many of the local policy makers, including longtime State Senator Berl Priebe.
Branstad shared some of his favorite memories from his years in Des Moines and as America’s Ambassador to China. The 78-year-old recently retired from his position as the President of the World Food Prize foundation.
