House Democrats elect new leader after failing to gain control of Legislature

Stung by defeat in last week’s election, democrats in the Iowa House elected a new leader this weekend. State Representative Richard Myers of Coralville was elected leader of the 44 democrats in the Iowa House. Myers replaces David Schrader of Monroe who stepped aside after democrats failed in their attempt to win more seats in the Iowa House. Myers says democrats have some general goals for the upcoming legislative session. He says they want to look for some common solutions to problems.Myers says he’s interested in solving the problems of education and health care.Myers has experience at all levels of government. He was Coralville’s Mayor and a Johnson County Supervisor. Myers, who is 66 years old, owned and ran the “Hawk I” truck stop in Coralville for 38 years. The City of Coralville purchased the truck stop a year ago to clear it for redevelopment along Interstate-80. Myers still runs the “Hawk I” Harley-Davidson dealership in Coralville, and rides a “Road King” Harley himself. He and his two sons take long-distance motorcycle trips. In 1996, the three Myers men traveled across Europe, visiting sites the elder Myers saw while he served in the Army. Myers was elected to the legislature in February of 1994 in a special election.