Biography

Meet Chuck

Chuck Isenhart was first elected to the Iowa House of Representatives in 2008.

 Born in Dubuque, the son of Bud and Marcella Isenhart, he has four brothers, two sisters, 15 nieces and nephews, 22 great nieces and nephews and four goddaughters.

 Chuck attended Wahlert High School. He graduated from Loras College in 1981 with a degree in political science and mass communication. He received a master’s degree in journalism from Marquette University in 1984.

 Chuck owns his own small businesses, Common Good Services and Awestruck Nature Images, offering photography, communications, public relations, training and education, strategic planning and other organizational services. He is also a sports official.

 From 1990 to 2007, Chuck was executive director of the Dubuque Area Labor-Management Council, which included work in labor relations, health care (Tri-State Health C.A.R.E. Coalition and Iowa Health Buyers Alliance), construction (Alliance for Construction Excellence) and education/workforce development (Communities and Schools Together).

 From 1986 to 1990, Chuck was a freelance writer and publisher, working on the topics of education, health care, rural development, labor relations and other social and economic issues. He was a member of the National Writers Union (UAW Local 1981). Before that, he was a reporter and editor for the Witness newspaper of the Archdiocese of Dubuque.

 Chuck was a research assistant for the Institute for the Catholic Media and an instructor at Marquette University. He has also worked for Interstate Power Company (power plant), the city of Dubuque (park maintenance), the Telegraph Herald (sports department) and the Iowa Oil Company (gas station attendant).

 Chuck has been active with the Dubuque County Democratic Central Committee since 1989. In 2006, he served as policy director for the Rick Dickinson for Congress campaign. He has chaired the County Platform Committee (1991 to 1999), the Research Committee (1989 to 1994) and Presidential Forum Planning Committee (2004).

 Chuck’s past or current professional activities include the Labor and Employment Relations Association, National Business Coalition on Health (Government Affairs Committee), Iowa 2010 Strategic Planning Council (Development Committee), Iowans for a Better Future Board of Directors, the Governor’s 21st Century Workforce Council and the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service Customer Council.

 In the community, Chuck has been a member of the City of Dubuque Housing Commission, City of Dubuque Community Development Commission, Dubuque County Mental Health/Developmental Disabilities Stakeholders Committee, Dubuque Soccer Club (co-founder), American Youth Soccer Organization (commissioner), America’s River Soccer Classic (director), Dubuque Housing Coalition (chair), Healthy Dubuque 2000, Crescent Community Health Center Planning Committee, Downtown Neighborhood Council (block captain) and St. Raphael Cathedral Parish. He has been on the board of directors for Habitat for Humanity, Project Concern, the Dubuque Food Pantry and the Dubuque Soccer Alliance.​

 Chuck has served on the following committees in the Iowa House of Representatives: Environmental Protection (ranking member); Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Appropriations Subcommittee (ranking member), Veterans Affairs; Economic Growth; State Government; Local Government; Ways and Means; Transportation, Government Oversight; Labor; Natural Resources; Agriculture; Rules and Administration, the Economic Development Appropriations Subcommittee; and the Health and Human Services Appropriations Subcommittee.