Lawyer appointed Iowa consumer advocate

DES MOINES — Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird on Monday appointed Lanny Zieman, an attorney with the Iowa Division of Labor, to run the state Office of the Consumer Advocate.

The consumer advocate is represents consumers and the public in matters dealing with gas, electricity, telecommunications and other utilities, including in proceedings before the Iowa Utilities Board.

Zieman’s appointment is subject to a two-thirds confirmation by the Iowa Senate, and he is set to begin work March 31.

“As an Iowa farm kid at heart, I’m honored that Attorney General Bird has trusted me to be Iowa’s next consumer advocate,” Zieman said in a statement. “I look forward to working with the rest of the Consumer Advocate team to speak up for Iowans’ interests in reliable and affordable energy.”

The previous consumer advocate, Jennifer Easler, resigned from the position before Bird, a Republican, took office after defeating Democrat Tom Miller in the November election.

“I’m excited that Lanny has stepped up to serve Iowans in this important role,” Bird said in a news release. “Lanny is a strong advocate and leader who has devoted his career to service. He will be an effective and practical voice for utility consumers.”

The appointment comes as Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds is expected to soon sign a sweeping government reorganization bill, which makes changes to the Attorney General’s Office and the consumer advocate.

Under Senate File 514 — which passed out of both the Senate and House this month — the attorney general, and not the consumer advocate, would have the responsibility over hiring the employees in the consumer advocate office, and they would be at-will employees rather than merit-based.

The consumer advocate would still be subject to Senate confirmation every four years but would serve at the pleasure of the attorney general rather than for a set term. The bill also would remove the requirement that the consumer advocate be an attorney.

Zieman, a graduate of the University of Iowa College of Law, was an attorney for the Iowa Insurance Division before moving to the labor division, and he serves as an assistant staff judge advocate in the Iowa Air National Guard.

An Iowa native who now lives in Ankeny, he was previously a utility litigation attorney for the Air Force and also has worked in private practice.

Comments: cmccullough@qctimes.com