Bransition Update - TB5 Picks Durham - Updated

So Iowa's next economic development director is Debi Durham, who has led Sioux City's regional development efforts for 15 years.

Rod Boshart has the news:

Sioux City business development leader Debi Durham says she “couldn't imagine a better job” than leading Governor-elect Terry Branstad's effort to create jobs in Iowa through a revamped public-private partnership approach to economic development.“I'm ready for a challenge,” Durham told a news conference today where Branstad introduced her as his choice to guide the state's job-creation and economic development efforts once his new administration takes office in mid-January.Branstad said Durham, 50, president of the Sioux City Chamber of Commerce and the Siouxland Initiative, was his first choice to lead a new state partnership that will enlist private business leaders from within and outside of Iowa to create, retain, recruit and expand business opportunities in Iowa as part of his goal to create 200,000 jobs over the next five years.“She knows how to get it done,” the governor-elect said.

“I'm ready for a challenge,” Durham told a news conference today where Branstad introduced her as his choice to guide the state's job-creation and economic development efforts once his new administration takes office in mid-January.

Branstad said Durham, 50, president of the Sioux City Chamber of Commerce and the Siouxland Initiative, was his first choice to lead a new state partnership that will enlist private business leaders from within and outside of Iowa to create, retain, recruit and expand business opportunities in Iowa as part of his goal to create 200,000 jobs over the next five years.

“She knows how to get it done,” the governor-elect said.

At first glance, this is a solid choice. Durham has a good track record in Sioux City and has experience directing development efforts with a regional perspective. That's probably good news for folks around here who are trying to push local development efforts in a more Cedar Rapids-Iowa City Corridorian direction.

Branstad has talked about reshaping the department into a public-private partnership, and Durham has experience managing multiple private development groups. But her experience as a longtime development leader also suggests Branstad may not be looking to dramatically reinvent the wheel. The new partnership may look a lot like the current department, chasing jobs with whatever tools are available.

The acronyms will change but I doubt Iowa will be getting out of the business incentives business. The department name may change, but the game remains largely the same. And Durham certainly understands the rules, and Iowa politics.

Durham was Doug Gross' lt. gov. running mate in the 2002 race for governor. If he had beaten Tom Vilsack, Gross  planned to make Durham director of Iowa Department of Economic Development. He lost, but eight years later, she gets the job.

Now, all she has to do is help TB create 200,000 jobs and raise incomes 25 percent. But hey, she knows how to get it done.

The Register notes that Durham calls the 200,000 jobs objective a "stretch goal."  No kidding.

But, as Boshart also reports, Durham won't have to worry about running the the Iowa Film Office:

Governor-elect Terry Branstad said Tuesday he plans to scrap the incentive program that used state tax credits to lure film projects to Iowa, but he has not given up on having a film office or seeking to have future movies made in Iowa.Branstad said he is considering options for the scandal-plagued film office, including moving it from inside the state Department of Economic Development to the state Department of Cultural Affairs as part of his plans to revamp DED operations into the Iowa Partnership for Economic Progress – a new public-private partnership intended to spur the growth of jobs and development around the state.“I think at this point we are evaluating what to do with (the Iowa Film Office) and whether that should be in a different agency or where it should be,” said Branstad, who is slated to begin his fifth term as governor on Jan. 14. He told reporters at a news conference that no final decision had been made regarding the future of the film office.

Branstad said he is considering options for the scandal-plagued film office, including moving it from inside the state Department of Economic Development to the state Department of Cultural Affairs as part of his plans to revamp DED operations into the Iowa Partnership for Economic Progress – a new public-private partnership intended to spur the growth of jobs and development around the state.

“I think at this point we are evaluating what to do with (the Iowa Film Office) and whether that should be in a different agency or where it should be,” said Branstad, who is slated to begin his fifth term as governor on Jan. 14. He told reporters at a news conference that no final decision had been made regarding the future of the film office.

If Iowa still wants to encourage filmmaking here, fine. But no more half-price taxpayer giveaways.

UPDATE -- Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement aren't happy about Branstad's pick:

Durham Nomination Good for Corporate Profits, Bad for Everyday Iowans, CCI Members SayIowa Association of Business and Industry's financing of Branstad campaign paying off as corporate donors call in debtsDes Moines, Iowa -- Iowa Governor-elect Terry Branstad's appointment of Sioux City businesswoman Debi Durham to head the Iowa Department of Economic Development confirms that Branstad intends to take the state of Iowa in a direction that will benefit corporate profits over the needs of everyday people, and Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement (Iowa CCI) members will fight the Branstad Agenda tooth and nail, the community power organization said in a statement Tuesday."Privatizing economic development isn't going to create jobs, it's going to allow big-moneyed special interest groups like the Iowa Association of Business and Industry to decide which private business interests get to receive taxpayer money without any real public oversight or accountability," Mason said. "This appointment confirms that Branstad intends to take the state of Iowa in a direction that will benefit corporate profits over the day-to-day needs of everyday Iowans. Branstad is doing the bidding of corporate power, and Iowa CCI members are going to fight him tooth and nail."The Iowa Association of Business and Industry (ABI) and their political action committee gave tens of thousands of dollars to big business candidates in 2010, including at least $25,000 directly to Terry Branstad's campaign for governor, according to the National Institute for Money in State Politics."Last week, ABI publicly released their legislative agenda to cut corporate taxes and privatize economic development, and this week ABI's president Mike Ralston is right there applauding the Governor-elect as Branstad appoints Durham - a longtime ally of corporate Iowa - to head the same economic development agency that ABI wants to privatize," Mason said."The corrosive influence of big money in Iowa politics has never been more clear," Mason added. "Branstad is looking to cut the state budget, which means state jobs, while he empowers Durham to dole out our tax dollars to big corporations with little public oversight. We need our public money going to support the public good - that means good jobs, clean air and water, quality education for all, and healthy communities. It doesn't mean a better bottom line for big corporations. We need to put people before profits. It's time to put people first."

Iowa Association of Business and Industry's financing of Branstad campaign paying off as corporate donors call in debts

Des Moines, Iowa -- Iowa Governor-elect Terry Branstad's appointment of Sioux City businesswoman Debi Durham to head the Iowa Department of Economic Development confirms that Branstad intends to take the state of Iowa in a direction that will benefit corporate profits over the needs of everyday people, and Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement (Iowa CCI) members will fight the Branstad Agenda tooth and nail, the community power organization said in a statement Tuesday.

"Privatizing economic development isn't going to create jobs, it's going to allow big-moneyed special interest groups like the Iowa Association of Business and Industry to decide which private business interests get to receive taxpayer money without any real public oversight or accountability," Mason said. "This appointment confirms that Branstad intends to take the state of Iowa in a direction that will benefit corporate profits over the day-to-day needs of everyday Iowans. Branstad is doing the bidding of corporate power, and Iowa CCI members are going to fight him tooth and nail."

The Iowa Association of Business and Industry (ABI) and their political action committee gave tens of thousands of dollars to big business candidates in 2010, including at least $25,000 directly to Terry Branstad's campaign for governor, according to the National Institute for Money in State Politics.

"Last week, ABI publicly released their legislative agenda to cut corporate taxes and privatize economic development, and this week ABI's president Mike Ralston is right there applauding the Governor-elect as Branstad appoints Durham - a longtime ally of corporate Iowa - to head the same economic development agency that ABI wants to privatize," Mason said.

"The corrosive influence of big money in Iowa politics has never been more clear," Mason added. "Branstad is looking to cut the state budget, which means state jobs, while he empowers Durham to dole out our tax dollars to big corporations with little public oversight. We need our public money going to support the public good - that means good jobs, clean air and water, quality education for all, and healthy communities. It doesn't mean a better bottom line for big corporations. We need to put people before profits. It's time to put people first."

Durham currently serves as the President of the Siouxland Chamber of Commerce and is also on the board of the Iowa Chamber Alliance, two big business industry groups that have pushed for commercial property and corporate tax cuts for years.