Behind the scenes as Branstad takes reins

URBANDALE - Add “government architect” to the resumes of David Roederer and Jeff Boeyink, the two men chosen by governor-elect Terry Branstad to build his management structure.

They welcome the challenge.

The recently designated leaders of the Branstad transition team have been besieged by interested candidates seeking roles in the new administration. Branstad, 63, a rural Boone Republican, takes charge Jan. 14.

“Last time I came in at a difficult time, as I am this time,” said Branstad, a former four-term governor who conceded that taking the reins of state government may not be any easier the fifth time around.

After the 1982 election, though, Branstad had the advantage of following an outgoing governor of the same party.

He also was elected in 1978 and 1980 as former Gov. Robert Ray's lieutenant governor and served as the Iowa Senate's presiding officer. (Iowa later changed its system to have the governor and lieutenant governor run as an executive-branch team.) This also marks the first time since 1962 that the incoming governor is replacing someone he defeated in the general election.

“It's been nearly 50 years since we've had this kind of a situation,” said Roederer, who Branstad also tabbed last week to direct the state Department of Management.

Roederer said there has been good cooperation with Culver's staff, and he expects a smooth transition of power.

The task ahead of Roederer and Boeyink, in less than 70 days, is to help Branstad interview and hire state agency directors, assess the state's budget situation in preparation for submitting a two-year budget plan to lawmakers by Jan. 31 and formulate policy initiatives that Branstad will present to the newly configured 84th General Assembly.

A non-profit organization is being assembled to coordinate activities surrounding the inauguration, which Branstad has indicated will not be a glitzy affair.

The new administration will be a mix of old and new. Boeyink is undertaking his first government assignment as Branstad's chief of staff, after serving in private-sector and political capacities. Roederer is a carry-over from past administrations, having served as Branstad's Commerce Department director and former chief of staff.

“I only changed a couple of department heads initially when I came in (in 1983),” Branstad said. “This time I would expect there would be more changes.”

Roederer said the new Branstad team likely will feature some administrators who will be kept on, some past Branstad appointees, like him, in mentoring roles, and a large share of new faces.

“Because of the financial situation that the state's in, you can't really say we're going to take a timeout for a year now and have everybody learn their jobs,” Roederer said. “There are some things where the only way you learn it is through experience. The governor pretty much knows where the restrooms are, so a lot of the startup issues he won't need to worry about.”

Boeyink said he is anxious to dive into his new duties after managing the governor's successful political comeback. He plans to replicate the campaign's “lean but efficient” operation in the Governor's Office, he said.

He previously served as an executive and lobbyist for Iowans for Tax Relief and as executive director of the Republican Party of Iowa but always viewed government from the outside looking in.

“We're ready to go. I'm excited about it,” said Boeyink. “The campaign side was fine, but I have to tell you the policy is my passion. Being involved with Gov. Branstad with the development and the implication of the policy, I couldn't be more excited. I think it's going to be a great challenge, and knowing the legislative process the way I do, I think that will be a benefit.”

The Branstad administration's policy path will mirror the goals the governor-elect laid out during the campaign - creating 200,000 jobs, raising Iowans' income by 25 percent, cutting government spending by 15 percent, revamping Iowa's economic development strategy, reducing corporate and property tax burdens, improving the regulatory climate and re-establishing Iowa as a world-class education leader over the next five years, he said.

“You should look at everything we do and be able to tie it back to one of our goals,” Boeyink said.

One of the keys to Branstad's success will be his ability to work with a divided Legislature, where Republicans forged a 60-40 majority in the Iowa House but Democrats held onto a 26-24 edge in the Iowa Senate.

Branstad said he has been able to work effectively under every legislative scenario, noting that he was “in a much more hostile working environment than now” when his first term began in 1983 and Democrats held majorities in both chambers.