(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 comeback of 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 has never 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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Governor Branstad appearing on a Plymouth County farm in the spring of 2015 as he proclaims Soil and Water Conservation Week.
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.
Branstad appearing at the Blue Bunny Ice Cream Parlor in June of 2014.
