Preceded by Joni Ernst Spouse(s) Rachel Party Republican Party of Iowa Political party Republican Role Iowa politician | Succeeded by David Sieck Name Mark Costello Preceded by Dan Rasmussen Children 4 children | |
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Born October 24, 1961 (age 62) ( 1961-10-24 ) Education University of Northern Iowa | ||
Mark Costello (born October 24, 1961) is the Iowa State Senator from the 12th District. He previously served as an Iowa State Representative in the 23rd District. A Republican, he served in the Iowa House of Representatives from 2013–2014 and the Iowa State Senate since 2015. Costello resides in Imogene, Iowa. He has a B.A. in computer information systems from the University of Northern Iowa.
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Biography
Mark Costello (R-Imogene) was first elected to the Iowa House in 2012 representing House District 23.
Mark served as Vice Chair of the Iowa House Health & Human Resources Budget Subcommittee. His other committee assignments for the 85th General Assembly include: Human Resources, State Government, Veterans Affairs, and Labor.
He won the December 30, 2014 special election to replace Senator Joni Ernst as the Iowa State Senator from District 12.
Mark grew up in rural Imogene, graduating from Nishna Valley High School and the University of Northern Iowa in 1984. Mark was employed as a computer programmer/analyst with Garst Seed Company in Coon Rapids, IA for five years prior to returning to the family farm.
Mark and his wife, Rachel, were married in 2001 and have five children, Matthew, Julia, Peter, Ethan, and Andrew. The family resides on their farm in Mills County where they raise corn, soybeans and registered Simmental cattle. Rachel is a native of Lacona, IA and home schools and cares for the children. The Costellos attend Sunnyside Bible Chapel in Atlantic.
Voters' rights
During the 2017 legislative session, Costello voted to shorten both the amount of time one may cast an absentee ballot and the number of days one can vote at satellite polling sites, and he voted to require all voters to present a state-issued ID. Though he voted for the measure, the bill was opposed by the Iowa State Association of Counties, an advocacy group for Iowa's disabled, and Iowa's Department on Aging opposed the bill.
Workers' Rights
During the 2017 legislative session, Costello voted for House File 295 which eliminates local control in municipalities that voted to increase their own minimum wage locally. Costello's vote will cause the minimum wage to be lowered in four counties which had already voted to raise their minimum wage (Johnson, Linn, Wapello, and Polk). Estimates show that at least 64,300 residents of Iowa will have their wages effectively lowered, including 35,800 to 36,000 in Polk County, 10,100 in Johnson County, and 18,400 in Linn County.
Healthcare
Costello voted in support of House File 625, which eliminated the requirement that parents report on their state taxes whether or not they have healthcare for their children. In this bill, Costello also voted to eliminate the requirement that parents apply for healthcare coverage, such as Hawk-i or Medicaid, for their children.
Immigration
Costello voted for an amended form of Senate File 481. This bill eliminated elements of local control by requiring a local officer to comply and detain an immigrant who is guilty of three misdemeanors, non-violent felonies, and felonies until ICE arrives. This bill was opposed by a number of organizations in Iowa, including the Iowa Police Chief Association, the Iowa Catholic Conference, the Iowa Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church, the Episcopal Diocese of Iowa, the Iowa Coalition against Sexual Assault, and the Iowa State Bar Association.