Sen. Ron Wieck, a Sioux City insurance agent, will take over the reins of the Senate minority leadership, succeeding the retiring Sen. Mary Lundby.

Iowa Senate Republicans gathered today to elect their new leadership team for the coming legislative session.

In addition to naming Wieck to the postion of Minority Leader, Sen. Mark Zieman, of Postville, was named Minority Whip.

Those elected to assistant minority leadership positions include Sen. Larry McKibben (Marshalltown), Sen. David Johnson (Ocheyedan), Sen. Jeff Angelo (Creston), Sen. Pat Ward (West Des Moines), and Sen. Nancy Boettger (Harlan).

Wieck’s rise to the leadership position means that both the Iowa Senate and House of Representatives minority leaders will hail from Sioux City.
House Minority Leader Chris Rants is also a resident of that western Iowa community.