Jeff Kaufmann
Jeff Kaufmann | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Chair of the Iowa Republican Party | |
| Assumed office June 28, 2014 | |
| Preceded by | Danny Carroll |
| Member of the Iowa House of Representatives from the 79th district | |
| In office 2005–2013 | |
| Preceded by | Dan Boddicker |
| Succeeded by | Bobby Kaufmann |
| Personal details | |
| Born | January 9, 1963 |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Vicki |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | University of Iowa (BA, MA, PhD) |
Jeff A. Kaufmann (born 9 January 1963) is a former Iowa State Representative from the 79th District. He served in the Iowa House of Representatives for 8 years - from his election in 2004 until his retirement in 2013. [1] He served in House leadership for 6 years, serving as the assistant minority leader and Speaker Pro Tem.
Kaufmann won his first election to the Iowa House by just over 1,000 votes, and was re-elected three times. In 2006, he was reelected with 6,311 votes (62%), defeating Democratic opponent Clara Oleson.[2] In 2008, Kaufmann collected 9,456 votes,[3] easily maintaining his seat. Democrat Rebecca Spears dropped out of the race before election day.[4]
In the Iowa House, Kaufmann was a member of the Administration and Rules committee; the Education committee; the State Government committee; the Ways and Means committee; and the Local Government committee, where he was the ranking member. Kaufmann authored a key anti-eminent domain bill; the Legislature overrode a veto by Democratic Governor Tom Vilsack. As a member of the House leadership team, Kaufmann played a key role in recruiting, fundraising, and campaigning for Republican candidate.
In 2014, Kaufmann became chairman of the Republican Party of Iowa.[5] During his tenure, the party enjoyed major successes on the local, state, and federal levels. In his time as chair, the winning control of both chambers of the legislature and the governorship for the first time in almost twenty years.[6] On the federal level, Republicans captured five of six federal offices, while delivering Iowa to the Republican presidential nominee for the first time since 2004.
His political experience includes serving as a trustee for Sugar Creek Township, as president of the Wilton School Board, and he currently serves as a Cedar County Supervisor.
Education
Kauffman obtained his BA, MA, and Ph.D from the University of Iowa.[1]
Career
Outside politics, Kaufman is a seventh generation livestock farmer, as well as a department chair at Muscatine Community College, where he has taught courses in history and government since 1997.[1]
Awards and honors
Kauffman has won a number of awards which include:
- Chancellor’s Award from the Eastern Iowa Community College District (1996)
- Muscatine County Outstanding Teacher Award (2005)[1]
- Faculty Member of the Year from the Iowa Association of Community College Trustees [7]
Organizations
Kaufmann is a member of the following organizations:
Family
Kaufmann is married to his wife of 32 years, Vicki. Together they have three sons: Bobby (now a state representative),[8][9] Jacob (a middle school science teacher), and John (a member of the Executive Board of the National Federation of College Republicans and the former chairman of the Iowa Federation of College Republicans).
References
- ^ a b c d e "Jeff Kaufmann Iowa State Representative". The University of Iowa Public Policy Center. Retrieved 24 December 2013.
- ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-07-15. Retrieved 2011-09-19.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2009-04-08. Retrieved 2009-03-15.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2008-10-14. Retrieved 2009-12-06.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ Hall, Kevin (June 28, 2014). "Live Blog: RPI Chair and Co-Chair Elections - The Iowa Republican". theiowarepublican.com. Retrieved November 28, 2016.
- ^ Russell, Joyce (November 9, 2016). "Iowa Senate Turns Republican in Tuesday Voting". Iowa Public Radio. Retrieved November 26, 2016.
- ^ http://muscatinejournal.com/news/local/education/politics-is-what-i-do-teaching-is-who-i-am/article_f22ce8d8-dd18-11e1-9f14-001a4bcf887a.html
- ^ Ferguson, Mike. "Rep. Jeff Kaufmann and son take leadership roles in rival campaigns". WCF Courier. Retrieved 24 December 2013.
- ^ Noble, Jason (December 29, 2014). "How Jeff Kaufmann is reviving the Iowa GOP". Des Moines Register. Retrieved November 17, 2016.
External links
- Representative Jeff Kaufmann official Iowa General Assembly site
- Profile at Iowa House Republicans
- Appearances on C-SPAN