Rocky De Witt
{{Short description|American politician (1959–2025)}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Rocky De Witt
| image = File:Rocky De Witt.jpg
| caption = De Witt, c. 2023
| state_senate = Iowa
| district = 1st
| term_start = January 9, 2023
| term_end=June 25, 2025
| predecessor = Dave Rowley
| state_house1 =
| district1 =
| term_start1 =
| term_end1 =
| predecessor1 =
| successor1 =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1959|4|12}}
| birth_place = Sioux City, Iowa, U.S.
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2025|6|25|1959|4|12}}
| death_place =
| party = Republican
| spouse =
| children =
| residence = Lawton, Iowa, U.S.
| education =
}}
Rocky De Witt (April 12, 1959 – June 25, 2025) was an American politician.
Background
De Witt was born in Sioux City, Iowa on April 12, 1959, and was a resident of Lawton, with his wife Vicki.{{cite news |last1=McNett |first1=Jared |title=Two GOP candidates in Northwest Iowa state legislature races opted out of Sioux City League of Women Voters candidate event |url=https://www.dewittobserver.com/news/state/two-gop-candidates-in-northwest-iowa-state-legislature-races-opt-out-of-sioux-city-league/article_f340440f-f444-5a1e-91f7-3f25df3070c2.html |access-date=12 December 2022 |work=Sioux City Journal/DeWitt Observer |date=12 October 2022}} He had previously been married to Julie Katseres, with whom he raised three sons.{{cite news |title=Justin Lee DeWitt |url=https://www.press-citizen.com/obituaries/icp019189 |access-date=12 December 2022 |work=Iowa City Press-Citizen |date=9 November 2020}} De Witt worked for the MidAmerican Energy Company for 22 years.{{cite news |last1=Yamada |first1=Caitlin |title=Jackie Smith, Rocky De Witt vie for Iowa Senate District 1 seat as attack ads fly |url=https://www.bellevueheraldleader.com/news/state/jackie-smith-rocky-de-witt-vie-for-iowa-senate-district-1-seat-as-attack-ads/article_9841ab20-f33e-529d-a38f-67e6a4244f88.html |access-date=12 December 2022 |work=Sioux City Journal/Bellevue Herald-Leader |date=27 October 2022}} After leaving MidAmerican Energy, De Witt provided security for the Woodbury County Sheriff's Office.{{cite news |last1=Gottburg |first1=Woody |title=DE WITT ANNOUNCES RUN FOR STATE SENATE IN IOWA |url=https://kscj.com/2021/12/09/de-witt-announces-run-for-state-senate-in-iowa/ |access-date=12 December 2022 |publisher=KSCJ |date=9 December 2021}}
De Witt died from pancreatic cancer on June 25, 2025, at the age of 66.{{cite news |last1=Dockter |first1=Mason |title=State Sen. Rocky De Witt dies at 66 |url=https://www.thegazette.com/state-government/state-sen-rocky-de-witt-dies-at-66/ |access-date=July 2, 2025 |work=The Gazette |date=June 25, 2025}}{{cite news |title=Iowa Sen. Rocky De Witt dies of pancreatic cancer at age 66 |url=https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/2025/06/25/iowa-senator-rocky-de-witt-dies-of-pancreatic-cancer/84361802007/ |access-date=July 2, 2025 |work=Des Moines Register |date=June 25, 2025}}
Political career
De Witt was first elected to the District 5 seat on the Woodbury County Board of Supervisors in November 2016,{{cite news |last1=Hayworth |first1=Bret |title=PROFILE: Rocky De Witt cruising into Woodbury County seat |url=https://siouxcityjournal.com/news/local/profile-rocky-de-witt-cruising-into-woodbury-county-seat/article_1ed11df7-ea3b-59d6-8afe-872644ba3dca.html |work=Sioux City Journal |access-date=12 December 2022 |date=3 January 2017}} and reelected in 2020.{{cite news |last1=Peikes |first1=Katie |title=Woodbury County Board Of Supervisors Entirely Republican For The First Time In 40 Years |url=https://www.iowapublicradio.org/ipr-news/2021-01-01/woodbury-county-board-of-supervisors-entirely-republican-for-the-first-time-in-40-years |access-date=12 December 2022 |publisher=Iowa Public Radio |date=1 January 2021}} He served as board chairman in 2018 and 2021.{{cite news |last1=Hayworth |first1=Bret |title=Vowing to make positive changes from inside look, De Witt leads Woodbury County in 2018 |url=https://siouxcityjournal.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/vowing-to-make-positive-changes-from-inside-look-de-witt-leads-woodbury-county-in-2018/article_3810717a-a3fc-5f04-befd-2cf8f85b2e13.html |access-date=12 December 2022 |work=Sioux City Journal |date=29 January 2018}}{{cite news |title=De Witt selected as the new chairman of the Woodbury County Board of Supervisors |url=https://siouxlandnews.com/news/local/de-witt-selected-as-the-new-chairman-of-the-woodbury-county-board-of-supervisors |access-date=12 December 2022 |publisher=KMEG |date=4 January 2021}} In December 2021, De Witt began his campaign for the District 1 seat of the Iowa Senate.{{cite news |title=Rocky De Witt announces campaign for Iowa Senate |url=https://siouxlandnews.com/news/local/rocky-de-witt-announces-campaign-for-iowa-senate |access-date=12 December 2022 |publisher=KMEG |date=9 December 2021}}{{cite news |last1=Dockter |first1=Mason |title=Rocky De Witt announces a run for Jackie Smith's Iowa Senate seat |url=https://nonpareilonline.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/rocky-de-witt-announces-a-run-for-jackie-smiths-iowa-senate-seat/article_ad70d3c8-5967-11ec-a474-3f827a16fe48.html |access-date=12 December 2022 |work=Sioux City Journal/The Daily Nonpareil |date=11 December 2021}} De Witt defeated incumbent Democratic legislator Jackie Smith, who was redistricted to District 1.{{cite news |last1=Thorne |first1=Wesley |title=Rocky DeWitt wins race for Iowa State Senator of District 1 |url=https://www.siouxlandproud.com/news/your-local-election-hq/rocky-dewitt-wins-race-for-iowa-state-senator-of-district-1/ |access-date=12 December 2022 |publisher=KCAU-TV |date=8 November 2022}}{{cite news |last1=Yamada |first1=Caitlin |title=Republicans prepared to represent Woodbury County in state legislature seats |url=https://siouxcityjournal.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/elections/republicans-prepared-to-represent-woodbury-county-in-state-legislature-seats/article_64c67c12-d876-59ac-a090-220c62afa002.html |access-date=12 December 2022 |work=Sioux City Journal |date=9 November 2022}}{{cite news |last1=Yamada |first1=Caitlin |title=Republicans oust Democrats for Woodbury County state legislative seats |url=https://siouxcityjournal.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/elections/republicans-oust-democrats-for-woodbury-county-state-legislature-seats/article_c703d55e-af1c-5fcc-afd6-8e8ec8b99a0f.html |access-date=12 December 2022 |work=Sioux City Journal |date=9 November 2022}} After his death in office, a special election for De Witt's senate seat was scheduled for August 26, 2025.{{cite news |title=Reynolds sets Aug. 26 special election to fill Iowa Senate seat of late Sen. Rocky DeWitt |url=https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/2025/06/30/kim-reynolds-special-election-iowa-senate-rocky-de-witt-woodbury-county/84422433007/ |access-date=July 2, 2025 |work=Des Moines Register}}
References
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Category:County supervisors in Iowa
Category:Republican Party Iowa state senators
Category:21st-century members of the Iowa General Assembly