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State Sen. Waylon Brown Announces Surprise Resignation • Iowa Capital Dispatch

Posted on by angelo
State Sen. Waylon Brown Announces Surprise Resignation • Iowa Capital Dispatch

North-central Iowa state Sen. Waylon Brown resigned from office Monday, weeks after winning a close primary election.

Brown, R-Osage, said his decision would take effect Wednesday in a statement released Monday morning, but did not provide a reason for his decision.

“I will always be grateful to the people of my district who trusted me to represent them in the Iowa State Capitol. I am grateful to my wife, Julie, and our two children, who supported me throughout my tenure as a state senator,” Brown said in the statement.

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In his resignation statement, Brown highlighted his work on energy policy, licensing reform and the budget.

Brown, a Republican, has served in the Iowa Senate since defeating Democratic incumbent Mary Jo Wilhelm in 2016. He currently represents Mitchell, Worth and Cerro Gordo counties as well as parts of Floyd County.

Brown narrowly won the June primary — 53 percent to 47 percent — over challenger Doug Campbell. Campbell criticized Brown for refusing to hold hearings on limiting the use of expropriation rights for carbon capture pipelines.

Jeff Kaufmann, chairman of the Iowa Republican Party, will hold a nominating convention within the next 30 days to nominate a new Republican candidate for Brown’s seat, according to the Cerro Gordo County Republican Party. The convention’s membership will be comprised of representatives from counties that live in Senate District 30.

Rich Lorence of Mason City, who could be Brown’s Democratic challenger, also released a statement regarding Brown’s decision.

“I want to thank Senator Brown for his hard work and leadership in the Iowa Senate on behalf of north central Iowa and wish him the best in his future endeavors,” Lorence said in the statement.