State Rep. Dave Heaton to receive Champion for Children award

DES MOINES ? The Coalition for Family and Children?s Services in Iowa is pleased to announce Rep. Dave Heaton (R-Mt. Pleasant) as one of the 2011 recipients of the Champions for Children?s Awards.

Representative Heaton will be recognized on Oct. 20, during the awards banquet at the Coalition?s Annual Conference in West Des Moines.

The Champions for Children Awards are presented each year to honor legislators who have been advocates for Iowa?s children and families. Because children do not have a voice, it is critical that we honor legislators and other key decision makers who act as voices for our children and champion services and supports for them.

Representative Heaton serves as the chair of the House Health and Human Services Appropriations Subcommittee and also serves on the appropriations, human resources and judiciary committees. He also serves on the Center for Rural Health and Primary Care Advisory Committee, the Early Childhood Iowa State Board, the Medical Assistance Projections and Assessment Council and the Mental Health and Disability Services Commission.

?We honor Representative Heaton for his passion and commitment to the kids and families in Iowa,? Kristie Oliver, executive director of the Coalition for Family and Children?s Services in Iowa. ?Representative Heaton brings in a depth of knowledge and a heart of gold to the Iowa Legislature.?

Heaton was first elected to the Iowa House in 1994. He and his wife, Carmen, live in Mt. Pleasant and have two grown children, Mary, and David Jr., and one granddaughter, Sophie.