Iowa Ag Secretary Northey willing to listen to job offers from Trump, Reynolds

DES MOINES - Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey loves his job, but if he gets a call from Donald Trump - or Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds - he'll answer it.

Northey, halfway through his third term leading the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, said Tuesday he would 'entertain” calls about either heading up the United States Department of Agriculture or serving as Reynolds' lieutenant governor after she succeeds Gov. Terry Branstad, who is slated to be ambassador to China.

'Certainly, if I got a call I would be interested in talking,” Northey said.

Northey, 57, a Spirit Lake farmer, emphasized that he likes what he's doing. He believes he has made a difference, especially in pushing for more action and resources to address water quality issues in rural and urban Iowa.

However, the former president and chairman of the National Corn Growers isn't limiting himself only to opportunities in Iowa.

'I love what I do, but I know you can make a big difference in a lot of other positions, so I'm certainly game to talk,” he said, quickly adding, 'I have not gotten a call. I do not have any travel plans to Trump Tower.”

He'll get a call if the president-elect listens to Sen. Chuck Grassley, who has been tweeting out his support for Northey.

'What a great compliment from Sen. Grassley - somebody who cares about agriculture and loves it, and is very well respected,” Northey said.

At the same time he is being promoted for the USDA post, there is speculation Reynolds may tap Northey as her replacement when she moves into the governor's office. That was fueled in part by his announcement on the heels of the Branstad-to-China news that he would not run against Reynolds for the GOP gubernatorial nomination in 2018.

'I would certainly entertain a conversation,” Northey said, but Reynolds has not spoken to him about the job.

Although interested in either position, Northey said there is a 'huge pool of great people who could do these jobs.”

If he leaves his current post, Northey said it would have to be for 'something where I think I can make a good difference.”

'I've got a great position to work from,” he said.

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