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Mark Costello (Iowa politician)

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Mark Costello
Member of the Iowa Senate
from the 8th district
Assumed office
January 12, 2015
Preceded byJoni Ernst
Constituency8th District - (2023-Present)
12th District - (2015-2023)
Member of the Iowa House of Representatives
from the 23rd district
In office
January 14, 2013 – December 30, 2014
Preceded byDan Rasmussen
Succeeded byDavid Sieck
Personal details
Born (1961-10-24) October 24, 1961 (age 63)
Omaha, Nebraska
Political partyRepublican
SpouseRachel
Children5
ResidenceImogene, Iowa
EducationUniversity of Northern Iowa (BA)

Mark Costello (born October 24, 1961) is the Iowa State Senator from the 8th District.[1] A Republican, he has served in the Iowa Senate since being elected in 2014. He had also previously served in the Iowa House of Representatives from 2013–2014.

Biography

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Costello was born in Omaha, Nebraska but moved to Imogene, Iowa as a kid. He graduated from Nishna Valley High School before going on to attend the University of Northern Iowa, receiving a B.A. in computer information systems.[2]

After college Costello worked five years as a computer analyst with Garst Seed Company based in Coon Rapids before eventually returning to work on his family farm.

He and his wife Rachel were married in 2001. They have five children and currently reside on their family farm in Mills County.[3]

Iowa House of Representatives

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Mark Costello (R-Imogene) was first elected to the Iowa House in 2012 representing the 23rd District.

Mark served as Vice Chair of the Iowa House Health & Human Resources Budget Subcommittee. His other committee assignments of the 85th General Assembly include Human Resources, State Government, Veterans Affairs, and Labor.[4]

Iowa Senate

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He won the December 30, 2014 special election to replace Joni Ernst in the Iowa State Senate after she was elected to the U.S. Senate. Ernst's predecessor in the 12th Senate district, Kim Reynolds, also went on to be elected statewide as Governor.[5]

As of February 2020, Costello serves on the following committees: Ethics (Chair), Agriculture, Appropriations, Human Resources, and Veterans Affairs. He also serves on the Health and Human Services Appropriations Subcommittee (Chair), as well as the Health Policy Oversight Committee, Administrative Rules Review Committee, and the Medical Assistance Advisory Council.[1]

Electoral history

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Election Political result Candidate Party Votes %
Iowa House of Representatives primary elections, 2012 [6]
District 23
Turnout: 3,183
Republican Mark CostelloRepublican1,71053.72%
Raymond Chase Republican85426.83%
Iowa House of Representatives general elections, 2012 [7]
District 23
Republican (newly redistricted) Mark CostelloRepublicanunopposed
Iowa Senate 12th District special election, 2014 [8]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mark Costello 3,138 74.7%
Democratic Steven L. Adams 932 22.2%
Libertarian Don W. Brantz 132 3.1%
Republican hold
Iowa Senate 12th District election, 2016 [9]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mark Costello 20,012 78.37%
Libertarian Don Brantz 5,524 21.63%
Republican hold

References

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  1. ^ a b "State Senator". www.legis.iowa.gov. Retrieved 2020-02-06.
  2. ^ Peterson, Mike (6 October 2016). "Meet the Candidates: Mark Costello". KMAland.com. Retrieved 2020-02-06.
  3. ^ "The Voter's Self Defense System". Vote Smart. Retrieved 2020-02-06.
  4. ^ "Iowa House Republicans » Meet Our Members – Mark Costello". Retrieved 2020-02-06.
  5. ^ Klingseis, Katherine. "Costello wins Ernst's Iowa Senate seat". Des Moines Register. Retrieved 2020-02-06.
  6. ^ "2012 Primary Election Canvass Summary" (PDF). Iowa Secretary of State. p. 106. Retrieved 2013-01-15.
  7. ^ "2012 General Election Canvass Summary" (PDF). Iowa Secretary of State. p. 69. Retrieved 2013-01-15.
  8. ^ https://sos.iowa.gov/elections/pdf/2014/general/canvsummary.pdf [bare URL PDF]
  9. ^ https://sos.iowa.gov/elections/pdf/2016/general/canvsummary.pdf [bare URL PDF]
Iowa Senate
Preceded by 8th District
2023 – present
Succeeded by
Preceded by 12th District
2015-2022
Succeeded by
Iowa House of Representatives
Preceded by 23rd District
2013-2014
Succeeded by