Kaufmann seeking Iowa GOP chairmanship

CEDAR RAPIDS - Former Eastern Iowa legislator Jeff Kaufmann is seeking the chairmanship of the Republican Party of Iowa.

Kaufmann, who represented parts of Cedar, Muscatine and Johnson counties from 2004 to 2012, announced his bid this week to replace Danny Carroll, another former lawmaker who has served in an interim capacity following the resignation of Chairman A.J. Spiker earlier this year. According to a party spokesman, Kauffman is the only candidate for the chairmanship.

In a memo to members of the State Central Committee who will make the decision Saturday, Kaufmann called for a new direction for party leadership that spoke to the criticisms of Spiker.

Fundraising has not been acceptable, he said. 'This must change and will change.”

He also said the State Central Committee should not be a clearinghouse for any one candidate or interest group, an apparent reference to Spiker's involvement with Ron Paul. Spiker chaired the Texas congressman's campaign in Iowa for the 2012 GOP presidential nomination. He left the Iowa GOP to become an adviser to Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul's PAC.

The party, Kaufmann said, 'should be the vehicle where grass roots Republicans help Republicans get elected to office.”

He also called for increased staffing and the possibility of GOP field offices outside Des Moines.

Kaufmann also called for outreach to 'young people, Hispanic Iowans, African Americans, conservative union members, conservative teachers.”

'We must fight for new members and not cede any population as belonging to the Democratic Party alone,” he said.

Carroll has not resigned as party chair, but is expected to be voted out by the Central Committee, which is now more aligned with Gov. Terry Branstad than more conservative elements of the GOP. Kaufmann and Branstad have been close supporters of each other.

A seventh generation cattle farmer from Wilton in Cedar County, Kaufmann and his wife, Vicki, have three sons, including Rep. Bobby Kaufmann, who succeeded him in the Iowa House.

Kaufmann also teaches history and government at Muscatine Community College.

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