Jack Whitver (born September 4, 1980) is an American businessman and politician, who is currently the Iowa State Senator for the 23rd District. Since 2018 he has served as Senate Majority Leader.
Jack Whitver | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Majority Leader of the Iowa Senate | |
| Assumed office March 14, 2018 | |
| Preceded by | Bill Dix |
| President of the Iowa Senate | |
| In office January 9, 2017 – March 14, 2018 | |
| Preceded by | Pam Jochum |
| Succeeded by | Charles Schneider |
| Member of the Iowa Senate | |
| Assumed office January 2011 | |
| Preceded by | Larry Noble |
| Constituency | District 23 (2023–present) District 19 (2013–2023) District 35 (2011–2013) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Jack Andrew Whitver September 4, 1980 Knoxville, Iowa, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Rachel Whitver |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | Iowa State University (BS, MBA) Drake University (JD) |
Business career
edit
Whitver founded Acceleration Iowa in 2004 with business partner Geoff Jensen. They added new locations in 2007 and 2009. Acceleration Iowa is a sports training business, which develops speed, quickness and overall athletic ability for young athletes. In 2012, Whitver bought CrossFit Des Moines and CrossFit Waukee and opened North Ankeny CrossFit. Whitver was an assistant coach (wide receivers and offensive coordinator) for the Iowa Barnstormers of the Arena Football League from 2008 to 2011. Whitver is also an attorney with the Des Moines law firm Whitaker Hagenow & Gustoff.[citation needed]
Political career
editWhitver was elected to the Iowa State Senate from District 35 on January 18, 2011, in a special election. District 35 covered Ankeny, Johnston, Grimes, Polk City and the entire northern part of Polk County. He defeated John Calhoun by a margin of 63%-37%. After the redistricting of 2012, Whitver represented District 19 in the State Senate, which covered Ankeny, Alleman, Saylor Township, and a small part of Des Moines. After redistricting in 2022, Whitver currently represents District 23.
Whitver was sworn into the Iowa Senate on January 24, 2011, and was named to the Judiciary, Economic Growth and Human Resource committees. In 2013 Whitver was named Ranking Member of the Appropriations Committee as well as serving on the Economic Growth, Ethics, Human Resource, Judiciary and State Government committees.[1]
Personal life
editWhitver was born in Knoxville, Iowa. He played college football for Iowa State University, starting at wide receiver.[2] He earned a Bachelor of Science and Master of Business Administration from Iowa State University. He attended Drake University, where he graduated with a Juris Doctor.
He is married to Rachel Whitver and they have three children.
In May 2024, Whitver announced that he was diagnosed with a brain tumor, a month prior, and would undergo radiation treatment.[3]
References
edit- ^ "Jack Whitver | C-SPAN.org". www.c-span.org. Retrieved February 2, 2020.
- ^ "NCAA College Football". ESPN. Retrieved February 1, 2020.
- ^ "Republican Jack Whitver, Iowa Senate majority leader, undergoing treatment for brain tumor". Des Moines Register. May 17, 2024. Retrieved May 20, 2024.