Clinton Republican Andrew Naeve, who fell just 71 votes short of winning a strongly Democratic Senate seat last year, has announced in new Senate District 49, which covers much of the same ground and has no incumbent.
But it's not entirely clear yet whether there will even be a contest.
Naeve, an East Central School Community School Board member, lost narrowly to Tod Bowman, the only Democrat to win an open seat in 2010. In the new map, Bowman is paired with fellow Democrat Tom Hancock of Epworth in Senate District 29.
Old District 13 included the city of Clinton and a northern tier of the county including Delmar, Charlotte, Goose Lake and Andover It went north to take in all of Jackson County and a corner of Dubuque County.
Jackson County is completely outside the new Senate 49, which takes in all of Clinton County and the northeast corner of Scott (including LeClaire, Princeton. McCausland and Park View). Democrats have a registration edge of 3,385 which ain't bad... but in old District 13 they had a lead of more than 7,500 and barely won.
Naeve actually won the Clinton County part of the district by about 500 votes. Bowman rolled up his winning margin in Jackson County.
If Bowman were to move within his old Senate district, say, into Clinton County, he would be considered a holdover senator and his four-year term would continue till 2014. However, recent speculation points another direction: Bowman could also stay put in Maquoketa and hold over in District 29 if Hancock, age 63, retires. (Hancock was elected in 2008 so he would have to run no matter what.) District 29 is better for a Democrat by about 3,000 voters.
If there is an election in Senate 49, it would be for a two-year term; as an odd number seat District 49 will be on the ballot in gubernatorial years. As of Map Day it was the only odd number seat with no incumbent.
Here's the press release:
CLINTON – Andrew Naeve, a sixth generation family farmer from Clinton, has announced his intent to run for the newly created Senate District 49, a seat which includes all of Clinton County and portions of northern Scott County. Naeve, a Republican, came just 71 votes shy of being elected to the Senate in 2010 in a heavily Democratic district.
A lifelong Iowan raised on a family farm, Naeve, 26, graduated from Cornell University in Ithaca, NY, with a degree in Farm Business Management and Finance. Upon graduation, Naeve returned to Iowa to join his father and grandfather on the family’s corn, soybean and cattle farm in rural Clinton County.
As a recent college graduate who returned home to Iowa to pursue his career, Naeve is running because he wants to see his generation and future generations be afforded the chance to stay in Iowa or come to Iowa to obtain a good job and raise their families in safe communities and good schools.
“I came back home to Iowa because I believe in Iowa and the opportunities and values that thrive here,” said Naeve. “I am running because I want to focus on finding new ways to create private sector jobs so we can grow our state again. I want my generation and future generations of Iowans to be able to pursue their dreams in Iowa, find a rewarding career and raise their family,” he continued.
Besides focusing on job creation and educational excellence, Naeve says he wants to cut the overall cost of government, better prioritize the state’s spending and work to reduce Iowa’s high property tax rates. As a family farmer, Naeve understands the burdens placed on small businesses by excessive government and says he looks forward to continuing to meet with the citizens of Clinton and Scott Counties and continue the conversation about the future of Iowa.
Andrew is married to Kristin Naeve. In addition to his work on his family farm, Naeve is Vice President of the East Central School Community School Board and a member of Faith Lutheran Church in Andover.
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