A Conversation With Iowa Governor Terry Branstad
(Des Moines) — On Monday of this week Iowa Governor Terry Branstad made history by being the longest serving governor in the United States, serving more than 7,000 days. Branstad has been governor for one out of eight days of Iowa’s statehood. KLEM news had the opportunity to visit with the governor via telephone. Branstad started his campaign for the governor back in 1982 following three terms in the Iowa House of Representatives and one term as Iowa’s Lieutenant Governor. He reflects back on why he pursued Iowa’s top executive position, saying the decision was a result of influence by school teachers.
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Is Branstad looking ahead to yet another term as Iowa’s governor?
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Branstad recalls the farm crisis as being one of his most difficult challenges, but at the same time he refers to it as one of his proudest achievements to assist with the agricultural economy.
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In addition to the farm crisis during the 1980’s, Branstad says he has faced many challenges as governor. He recalls the flood of 1993 when each of the 99 counties were designated as a disaster area, and the city of Des Moines was without water due to flood waters had compromised the city municipal water works station. He also referred back to this spring and summer when the avian bird flu struck the state’s poultry and turkey industries, killing more than 30 million birds. Branstad says he is still battling the Environmental Protection Agency urging them to approve more renewable fuels to be produced, in order to help boost farm income, and to see additional expansion of ethanol and biodiesel plants across the state. As for why Branstad never pursued a higher office either as a U-S Congressman, Senator, or even President, the five-term governor says it never has interested him.
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Governor Branstad has been portrayed perhaps hundreds of times by former Des Moines Register, and now free-lance political editorial cartoonist Brian Duffy. KLEM news asked the governor if there were ever any cartoons portraying him, that he enjoyed and especially remembers.
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As for remaining goals, Branstad says he wants to continue to build on making Iowa the best education state, and he wants to continue to improve on Iowa’s ground water quality.
Red Oak Selects New Police Chief
RED OAK, Iowa (AP) – A sergeant in the Red Oak Police Department in southwest Iowa has been hired as the department’s new police chief.
33-year-old Justin Rhamy will take over the department in February to replace Chief Drue Powers, who is retiring.
Rhamy is a Villisca native. He joined Villisca Rescue in 2000 and eventually became the emergency medical service chief.
Rhamy spent four years with Red Oak police before a four-year stint with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office. He rejoined the Red Oak force in February 2013.
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West Branch Ordered To Pay Wind Turbine Company
WEST BRANCH, Iowa (AP) – A judge is ordering the city of West Branch to pay nearly $500,000 in tax rebates to a manufacturer of wind turbines.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Jon Scoles ruled Thursday that the city breached an agreement with Acciona Windpower when it refused to reimburse part of its property taxes in 2013 and 2014.
The city had promised the company eight years of property tax rebates, under an agreement in which Acciona would invest $11 million in its West Branch plant and add 110 jobs over five years.
West Branch paid tax rebates the first three years as required. But in 2013, the city accused the company of not living up to its job-creation goal and stopping paying.
Scoles earlier rejected the city’s claim, finding the company had created the jobs promised.
