Meet the youngest woman elected to public office in Iowa
An incumbent Ames City Council member was ousted Tuesday by a 20-year-old political newcomer.
Voters chose Rachel Junck to replace Chris Nelson as Ames’ newest 4th Ward City Council member.
Nelson was seeking his third term.
Junck is a chemical engineering student at Iowa State University. She is the youngest woman ever elected to public office in Iowa.
She said that, in college towns like Ames, it is important that students have a say in what happens.
“I think it’s important to take local action on climate change and start making sustainability changes in Ames, as well as quality of life and affordable housing,” Junck said.
Junck said that she knows some Ames residents will question her ability to serve the Ames City Council while in school and that she is ready to meet those skeptics head on.
“With the rigorous campaign schedule of the past 6-7 months, I think I fully proved I can do the responsibilities of city council as well as being a student,” she said.
Junck will be sworn into the Ames City Council in January.