Zaun kicks off campaign for Congress in Iowa's 3rd District

DES MOINES – State Sen. Brad Zaun, a Republican from Urbandale, kicked off his campaign for Congress in Iowa's 3rd District Thursday

Zaun, 47, highlighted his experience as a legislator, small business owner and former mayor in his announcement speech.

Zaun cited a growing national deficit as one of his reasons for running and called what is going on in Washington dysfunctional.

“We need to fix this because what's going to happen is these young people here and all of us in this room are going to be paying for this irresponsibility that's going on in Washington, D.C.,” Zaun said. “I truly believe that I can make a difference.”

He chose his mother's hardware store, where he learned his trade, as the venue for his announcement speech.

Zaun went on to own a hardware store for 18 years in the Des Moines suburb of Urbandale. Companies such as Lowe's and Home Depot moving into the market made it hard to compete. At times, he was looking down the barrel of financial run or foreclosure, but he got through them, he said.

“What I did not do is I didn't look for a handout or a government bailout for any of the problems or the challenges,” said Zaun, now vice president of a real estate company.

Iowa's 3rd District currently is held by Democrat Leonard Boswell, who was first elected in 1996.

Zaun said incumbents are vulnerable next year, something he said is evident the “tea party” movement and town hall meetings this summer.

“I think people are just saying they've had enough with the insiders and what's going on,” Zaun said.

The 3rd district includes 12 counties in the central and east-central parts of the state. The district is mostly rural but also encompasses Polk County, the state's most populous. Other counties in the district are Benton, Grundy, Poweshiek, Tama, Iowa, Lucas, Keokuk, Monroe, Marion, Jasper, and Mahaska counties.

Zaun cited his work in the Iowa Legislature to pass a bill that restricted sales of pseudoephedrine, a key ingredient in making illegal methamphetamine.

He also pointed to his role as ranking member of the Senate Ways and Means Committee to help kill tax increases.

Iowa Senate Minority Leader Paul McKinley, R-Chariton, described Zaun as a successful community organizer.

“That is precisely what we need to bring change about in this state, and representing the people of Iowa,” McKinley said.

Other Republicans running for the seat include Dave Funk of Runnells and former Iowa State University wrestling coach Jim Gibbons.