Iowa’s new lieutenant governor was described as thoughtful, respectful and kind by two lawmakers from Webster County who have worked with her in the state Capitol.

State Sen. Tim Kraayenbrink, R-Fort Dodge, described Chris Cournoyer, a former state senator, as a “good pick” for the lieutenant governor’s job.

“She is well respected and will do a good job of relaying the governor’s message and agenda,” Kraayenbrink said.

He is the chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee and Cournoyer was the chairwoman of the panel’s subcommittee on education.

“I worked with her pretty closely on the education budget,” he said.

A few years ago, Cournoyer was the chairwoman of the Senate Technology Committee and Kraayenbrink was the vice chairman.

Based on his work with her in the Senate, he described the new lieutenant governor as respectful, knowledgeable and kind.

State Rep. Ann Meyer, R-Fort Dodge, said she worked with Cournoyer on a bill regarding preparing schools for working with students who have epilepsy. Meyer led the House version of the measure while Cournoyer led the Senate version.

“I know she’s a very thoughtful person,” Meyer said. “I know she aligns well with the governor and will support the governor’s agenda well.”

She described Cournoyer as kind, strong and willing to work with anyone. She said Cournoyer’s common sense and ability to negotiate are strengths that she brings to the lieutenant governor’s position.

State Rep. Mike Sexton, R-Rockwell City, said he has not worked with Cournoyer. He said most of his legislative work is with the Agriculture and State Government committees, and there isn’t any overlap with what Cournoyer was working on in the Senate.

The appointment makes Iowa one of two states in the nation that has women in the top two executive roles. Arkansas, led by Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders and Lt. Gov. Leslie Rutledge, is the other.

Kraayenbrink, Meyer and Sexton all said the selection of a lieutenant governor should be based on merit, not gender.

“We just need the most qualified people in there,” Kraayenbrink said.

But Meyer added that she thinks the appointment of Cournoyer is “a great step for Iowa.”