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By Greg Janetka
| Five senators tender resignations
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DES MOINES, Iowa: Five Iowa State Senators - three Republicans and two Democrats - turned in their resignations yesterday, which become effective January 1, 2013. Under state law, if two senators are drawn into the same district during redistricting they must face an election, even if they are in the middle of a four-year term. However, in order to avoid such a situation, legislators have until the first Wednesday in February to resign.[1]
Iowa elects half of its 50 member Senate every two years, meaning potentially half of the Senate could have to face re-election after only serving two years. Here are details on the five face-offs that were averted.
- Robert Bacon (R) and Bill Dix (R) - Bacon and Dix were both first elected to the Senate in 2010 and thus not up for re-election until 2014. Bacon resigned in order to run for the District 48 seat in the House, which allows Dix to finish out his term.
- James Seymour (R) and Nancy Boettger (R) - Seymour was first elected to the Senate in 2002 and last elected in 2008. His resignation allows veteran legislator Boettger, who was first elected in 1994, to serve the remainder of her term.
- Pat Ward (R) and Matt McCoy (D) - Ward has served in the Senate since her election in 2004. Her resignation allows Democratic incumbent McCoy to finish his term. He was first elected in 1996.
- John Kibbie (D) and David Johnson (R) - Veteran Kibbie, President of the Senate, first served in the Senate from 1964-1968 and has currently served since 1989. By resigning, Republican Johnson, first elected in 2002, can serve the remainder of his term.
- Tom Hancock (D) and Tod Bowman (D) - Hancock was first elected in 2008, whereas Bowman is a freshman. However, Hancock said his decision to resign had nothing to do with redistricting, stating, "I just really didn’t have the energy to do it again. I just felt I didn’t want to go through another election. I love the job, but I kind of hate the politics of it. But I certainly did my best for seven years, and I have another year left."[2]
The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run for the Senate is March 16. The primary will be held June 5, with the general election on November 6.
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