South Dakota Native Works in Nations Capitol:

Emilee Gehling J.D. rides a commuter train for 40 minutes into Washington DC to work for Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley. Although she enjoys her fast paced work environment, this South Dakota native looks forward to the ride back to her Maryland home each evening.

"Because we live in kind of a small town, and actually it's not all developed, there are a few farms around us, so it feels more like home when I'm there," Gehling commented about the home she shares with her husband, Aaron. "You can drive by not exactly prairies, but open fields, and it's nice not to see big buildings everywhere."

Gehling, the daughter of Tim and Debbie Boyle of Dakota Dunes, started working in Washington D.C. in Mid-January after completed her undergraduate studies at Notre Dame with a BA in Political Science in 2005, graduating from the University of Iowa Law School in December 2007 and happily passing the Iowa Bar Exam.

"It was pretty excruciating to prepare for it. But, when it's done, it's done," Gehling commented about the Iowa Bar Exam.

Gehling now spends her days in the nation's capitol using both her law and political science degrees.
"I'll be basically helping to write laws and legislation," Gehling explained of her position as Counsel for the International Narcotics Control Caucus in Washington, D.C.

"I'm working for Senator Grassley who represents Iowa," She explained. Senator Grassley is Co-Chair of the INCC.

Gehling also frequents visits with Delaware Senator Joe Biden's staff.

"Senator Biden is co-chair of the caucus, so I work with his office a lot on drug policy issues," Gehling said.

But, at the end of the day when her work is complete, Gehling is greeted at home by her husband, Aaron, a native of Salix, Iowa. Both Heelan graduates, the couple met on a college summer break in Siouxland. The newlyweds have been married one and a half years.

Aaron, a graduate of the Business program at Iowa State University, is a Manager for Wells Fargo Financial in Maryland.

The couple visits the Midwest as much as possible with their hectic work schedules.

"We usually spend all our time with family when we're there," Gehling explained. However, when there is freetime, they enjoy skiing and boating on Brown's Lake in Salix, near Aaron's family home, or visiting with friend's from Heelan.

But, for now, the couple plans to stay on the East coast.

"I plan on working here for a few years for sure. We don't have a timeline really," Gehling commented. "The long term goal is when we want to raise our family, that it's going to be back in the Midwest."

Midwestern family values and wide open spaces are important to the couple.

"My husband and I had similar childhoods. It was always very family oriented. I feel like I want to give my children, when I have them, the kind of childhood that I had and I feel like it's really important to be back where I grew up to do that."

When the couple eventually returns to the Midwest, Gehling plans to use her Law Degree to help Siouxlanders.

"I'll probably be looking to go into private practice with the firm, or potentially maybe using my experience with drug policy working as an Assistant US Attorney, or Prosecutor, depending on what kind of job I can get," Gehling explained.

So, for now, the couple spends their freetime with Irish, their new 4 month old yellow lab puppy.

"She's a handful, but she's really sweet," Gehling noted.

***This article was originally published in the North Sioux City / Dakota Dunes Times by Sedgwick Publishing.***