Kim Reynolds: Iowa?s next ? and first female ? governor

BY ERIN MURPHY

Lee Des Moines Bureau

DES MOINES ? Soon, Iowa will have its first female governor.

With Gov. Terry Branstad set to resign and become the next U.S. ambassador to China, Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds will, at some point in 2017, be promoted to governor.

When that happens, Iowa will be crossed off the list of 23 states that have never had a female governor.

The 57-year-old Reynolds has been Branstad?s lieutenant governor since he returned to office in 2011.

?I have been honored to be a full partner with Gov. Branstad in this administration and know that the experience I?ve gained over the last six years has prepared me well for this next chapter of service to all Iowans,? Reynolds said Wednesday in a prepared statement.

Reynolds is vacationing this week with her family and is expected to be back in Des Moines on Thursday in time for that night?s event with President-elect Donald Trump.

Republicans who know the governor and his administration say Branstad has been preparing Reynolds as his successor, including her in important policy and personnel decisions and deploying her to head large initiatives, including the state?s effort to generate more interest in science, technology, engineering and math careers and the state?s long-term energy plan.

?I would venture a guess that there?s not a lieutenant governor in America that?s more prepared to take the reins of running a governor?s office than she is,? said Robert Haus, who has worked in the administration as Reynolds? chief adviser. ?Gov. Branstad, from what I witnessed, was fantastic to her. And they worked very closely. ...

?It was very much a mentor relationship, and I think that served both of them well. It?s good for public policy, but it also got her ready for this moment in time.?

Prior to serving as Branstad?s lieutenant governor, Reynolds served two years in the Iowa Senate representing seven southeast Iowa counties. She was elected to the Senate in 2008 but served only two years before resigning to be Branstad?s running mate in the 2010 gubernatorial election.

In the Senate, Reynolds served on multiple committees; she was the minority party?s ranking member on the Local Government Committee and served on the economic development budget committee.

She also served on the board for the state?s fire and police retirement system.

Haus said that experience serving in the Iowa Legislature will help Reynolds when she takes over as governor.

?She understands the legislative process. She understands having worked with (legislators) for many years now in the governor?s office. She understands the committees, the players, and all the interests that will be brought to bear,? Haus said. ?She comes in with just a wealth of experience and the ability to get things done.?

Prior to serving at the Iowa Capitol, Reynolds was Clarke County treasurer for eight years.

Joni Ernst, Iowa?s freshman U.S. senator, said Reynolds? work in local government, as a state legislator and then as lieutenant governor has provided experience that will help her succeed as governor.

?She did just a tremendous job listening to her constituents in the county, and then in her state senate district, and now as lieutenant governor as well,? Ernst said of Reynolds. ?She listens very well to Iowans and their concerns, and that?s why she?ll succeed as governor.?

Reynolds encouraged Ernst to run for local office (Ernst served as Montgomery County Auditor), recruited Ernst to succeed her in the Iowa Senate and encouraged her to run for the U.S. Senate in 2014.

Reynolds and her husband, Kevin, live in Osceola, which is roughly 50 miles south of Des Moines. She grew up about halfway between the two, in St. Charles, population 634.

The Reynoldses have three daughters and eight grandchildren.

?What you have is somebody who has come from a small town, very humble, great work ethic and has never forgotten her roots,? Haus said. ?She is a classic example of an Iowa leader.?

Because Branstad cannot be formally nominated to serve as U.S. ambassador to China until Trump is inaugurated and all appointments must then be confirmed by the U.S. Senate, it is likely Branstad will continue to serve as governor at least through January and February 2017.

Once confirmed, Branstad will resign and duties of the office will fall on Reynolds, who would then select her lieutenant governor.

The exact format for that transition is being worked out between the offices of the governor, the attorney general and the secretary of state, according to a secretary of state spokesman.

Reynolds and her lieutenant governor then will serve out what remains of the current term, which expires at the end of 2018. They would then need to run for re-election, if they choose.

Reynolds will be taking over as governor at a time when Republicans have gained full control of the Iowa Capitol ? majorities in the Iowa House and Iowa Senate and a GOP governor ? for the first time in 20 years.

Not everyone expressed optimism about a pending Gov. Reynolds on Wednesday.

The advocacy group Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement issued a statement claiming Reynolds is beholden to campaign donations made by agriculture businesses, and the Democratic Governors? Association issued a statement in which they laid some early groundwork for 2018.

?Democrats already had Iowa as a pickup target,? association executive director Elisabeth Pearson said. ?Gov. Branstad?s departure increases the chances for Democrats to win back the Iowa governor?s office in 2018.?