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Kaufmann’s son will run for 73rd House district
by Gregory R. Norfleet · News · March 23, 2012
Robert “Bobby” Kaufmann, son of four-time state representative Jeff Kaufmann, announced last week that he will seek the Republican nomination in the 73rd district.
Kaufmann, of Wilton, works on the family farm with his father and runs his own small business, Kaufmann Steel, which works in construction, demolition and hauling.
“Iowa is known for its can-do attitude, helpful neighbors and small town way of life,” he said. “If we are to preserve our state’s greatness we must focus on ways to get our economy moving again. We need to get government out of the way and create an environment where our Main Street businesses can be successful and job creators can begin hiring again. This is what Iowans expect and deserve.”
At 26, Kaufmann said he knows he is not the youngest to run for state representative, knows younger candidates have won, and said that a younger point of view and his experience with business and politics should bring a fresh perspective to the Iowa House. For seven years, Kaufmann worked as a clerk in the House with his father.
“I got to see first hand what it takes to campaign, I got to see how it works and what it takes to make a difference,” he said. “After being in that realm for so many years, I was ready to take on, and succeed, at it.”
He said he has great respect for his father and his accomplishments, and how the elder Kaufmann worked “severely long weeks” in Des Moines and meeting with constituents.
He said he has “respect” for his father’s views and agrees with how Jeff Kaufmann “is not a partisan flamethrower.”
“He’s not outspoken (against a party) and closeminded,” Bobby Kaufmann said. “I fit that mold. I’m a Republican and not ashamed of it, and I have friends who are Democrats and Independents who have a lot of good ideas. I’m a big believer in listening and working with anyone to reach a consensus.”
He believes he has a lot in common with his father, but said that he is probably more passionate about fighting local Brain Drain.
“I want to keep people in our small towns,” he said. “That’s not a knock against Dad, I just have a different perspective. These small towns are slowly shrinking. I would like to attract young people to come back home and work in places like West Branch.”
Kaufmann said this issue is No. 3 on his campaign, but “No. 1 in my heart.”
“We need to protect and preserve small-town Iowa,” he said. “It is under constant attack in Des Moines. There will be no stronger advocate that me.”
His No. 1 campaign issue is the economy, with education No. 2.
“It’s kind of hard to focus on any other issue when there are some families who worry about sending kids to college, or putting dinner on the table,” he said.
Kaufmann’s father is also a history professor, so education “has a rich background in my family.” That is why he wants to find a way to give people the “opportunity to attend whatever level of education they would like to reach.”
Kaufmann’s filing to run on March 9, the deadline to do so, means he will be uncontested for the Republican ticket. A primary, however, will decide if he runs against Solon’s Dick Schwab or West Branch’s David Johnson, both of whom are running for the Democratic nomination.
Kaufmann said he thinks he will, indeed, benefit from name recognition of his father, whom worked his way up to speaker pro tem.
“I’m not under any illusion that this is a coronation,” he said. “But I would be amiss to say it wouldn’t be useful. Still, I plan on knocking on every single door and listening to every single person. I don’t plan on relying on (name recognition) one bit.”
Kaufmann, who will turn 27 in June, said younger representatives are a “growing trend” in the Iowa legislature.
“There are a number of younger elected officials from both parties,” he said.
This is Kaufmann’s first run at a public seat. He successfully ran in 2007 for state chair of the College Republicans, which required visiting 30 schools to garner the win.
Kaufmann said he is an “entrepreneur at heart” and loves running his own business.
Kaufmann is also a member of the Farm Bureau, National Rifle Association, Cedar County Historical Society, Cedar County Soldiers Monument Association, and other service and volunteer organizations.
Iowa House district boundaries were redrawn for this election. The new District 73 comprises of all of Cedar County, eastern Johnson County and the city of Wilton.
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