Jack Whitver: Majority Leader, Iowa Senate.

• Author: Hladick, Beth
• Position: THE FINAL WORD - Interview

A lifelong Iowan, Whitver graduated from Iowa State University where he was a three-year starter as wide receiver for the Cyclones football team. His entrepreneurial nature led him to start his first small business after graduating and eventually to the fitness and restaurant industries. Whitver graduated from Drake University Law School in 2012. He currently practices in Des Moines, specializing in estate planning and business law. First elected to the Iowa Senate in 2011, he was elected president after Republicans gained control of the chambe in 2016. He has served as majority leader, the Senate's top post, since March. He and his wife, Rachel, have three children.

What was the moment when you first knew you were interested in politics? I was playing football at Iowa State. I think our second or third game my junior year, we were playing the University of Iowa. It was a huge game and a really big deal in the state. That just happened to be the week of 9/11. They canceled our game and all other football games. It made me pause and think. You know what? Maybe football isn't the most important thing in the world. There's a much bigger world out there. It opened my eyes to the fact that maybe I should pay a little bit more attention to what's going on in the political world.

How has your experience in small business and law helped you in your legislative work? It's been very important because, unlike what happens in Washington, D.C., we actually have to live by the laws we write. Being a small-business owner who has to work in this business environment gives you a different perspective when you're at the Capitol trying to make laws.

What does it take to be an effective leader? The most important thing is being able to listen and understand what motivates people, what people want, and just overall, to listen more than you talk. That's not always easy, but that's something I try very hard to do. Patience is key.

What is your most important legislative priority? Creating a growth environment here in Iowa. I believe we're positioned well for growth, but we need to continue to improve our job-creating environment to take advantage of that growth. We've worked very hard on that in the last couple of years.

How does having young children inform the way you approach your responsibilities in the legislature? It helps you to take a long-term view of everything you do. Having young kids, knowing they're going to grow up, makes you think about that...