Branstad names a BVP insider as state agency chief

Governor-elect Terry Branstad and his transition team are making announcements this month about who has accepted Branstad’s job offer and agreed to lead key state agencies. A woman who was a key supporter of Branstad’s primary opponent Bob Vander Plaats has been named to a post in the Branstad Administration.  Read the release below:

Branstad names retired Brigadier General Jodi Tymeson as head of Department of Veterans Affairs

(URBANDALE) – Gov.-Elect Terry Branstad today announced that retired Brig. Gen. Jodi Tymeson will serve in the Branstad/Reynolds administration as head of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Tymeson, served in the Iowa Army National Guard from 1974-2007. While there, she graduated from officer candidate school and was commissioned a second lieutenant in 1982. She served as platoon leader, company commander, battalion commander and troop command commander – responsible for 3,450 soldiers.

She was selected to attend the Army War College as a national security fellow at Harvard University’s JFK School of Government, graduating in 1999. She is the first female promoted to brigadier general in the Iowa Army National Guard. She retired in 2007 with 33 years of service.

Tymeson’s husband, John, is a retired brigadier general, following his 34 years of military service. He is a Vietnam veteran, and currently serves as chair of the board of directors at the Food Bank of Iowa.

“Our National Guard troops are at their highest deployment since World War II, and Jodi has the knowledge and experience to understand their needs here at home,” said Gov.-elect Terry Branstad. “Jodi is an outstanding leader, and I am pleased she will be serving in this extremely important role within my administration.”

Tymeson also served as a full-time 6th grade teacher at Cedar Heights Elementary in Cedar Falls from 1988-1992, and taught as a substitute teacher from 1993-1998.

From 2001-2010, Tymeson served nearly 30,000 constituents as a state representative for Madison, Warren and Dallas Counties. She served as House Education Committee chair for four years, in addition to a number of other committee assignments.

“I’d like to thank Governor Branstad for this opportunity to serve veterans and their families, and I’d like to thank Patrick Palmersheim for his dedicated service over the years,” said Tymeson. “I look forward to working with the Iowa Commission of Veterans Affairs, the team at the Department, the county directors, and all the veteran organizations and advocates throughout the state. There is a strong network of people in Iowa working to support veterans and their families, and I look forward to working as part of that team. Iowans appreciate the service and sacrifice of veterans and their families, and we will do our best to serve them.”

Tymeson grew up in Boone County, and currently resides in Winterset with her husband, John.

In other transition news from the Branstad crew,  Branstad is keeping the head of the Iowa National Guard and he’s named one of the unsuccessful candidates on the 2010 statewide ballot to a state job.  No, it’s not Brenna Findley, the GOP candidate for attorney general.  It’s Dave Jamison, the GOP candidate for state treasurer. 

Branstad names Dave Jamison as head of Iowa Finance Authority

(URBANDALE) – Gov.-Elect Terry Branstad today announced that David Jamison will head the Iowa Finance Authority in the Branstad/Reynolds administration.

“David will help our administration restore Iowa’s sound fiscal footing,” said Branstad. “I am excited that he has agreed to serve the taxpayers of Iowa in this capacity, and know that his work will greatly benefit our state.”

The Iowa Finance Authority was formed in 1975 to provide housing lending for people with less means. The department also offers title guarantees, ensures the integrity of land title transfers, administers HUD Section 8 housing, and provides water quality funding.

Jamison is a United States Marine Corps veteran, serving on active duty from July 1975-Nov. 1980. Since then, he has served as Story County Income Maintenance Data Coordinator in Nevada, Iowa, going on to serve as Story County Treasurer from 1995-Dec. 2010. Jamison was the Republican candidate for Iowa Treasurer in 2010.

“This is a great honor, and I will work very hard on behalf of Iowa’s taxpayers,” said Jamison. “I will assist Governor Branstad as we make government more honest, transparent and accountable to its citizens. I believe that with my background as county treasurer, the Iowa Finance Authority will be a great opportunity to serve this administration.”

Jamison is a graduate of Iowa State University, with a degree in Business Administration, Management. He serves in a number of local and statewide civic organizations. He lives in Ames with his wife, Karen, and their three children.

On Monday, Branstad announced some other hires for roles in the governor’s office itself

Branstad announces Todd Schulz as legislative liaison, names Alicia Freed as executive scheduler and Jimmy Centers as deputy communications director

(URBANDALE) – Gov.-elect Terry Branstad announced today that Todd Schulz will serve as the administration’s Senate and House legislative liaison.

Schulz, a native of Charles City who grew up in Des Moines, most recently served as the manager of government relations for Iowa Telecom, based in Newton. In this position, held from 1999 to 2010, he monitored federal and state legislative issues, tracked state study committees that reviewed regulatory and legislative issues, and offered analysis on regulatory developments at the Iowa Utilities Board. For 19 years prior to that, he served as the state director and managed government relations for the Iowa Telephone Association.

He has a B.A. in Business Administration from the University of Iowa, and is a graduate of the Institute for Organizational Management at the University of Notre Dame.

“Todd has a great working relationship with legislators on both sides of the aisle, and will serve an important role for my administration, as we work to advance our pro-jobs, pro-education agenda forward,” said Branstad. “I am excited Todd has accepted this opportunity, and I look forward to working with him.”

Branstad also announced that Alicia Freed will serve as the governor’s executive scheduler, ensuring the administration’s needs are met with regard to the governor’s appearances and availability.

Freed has served as a staff assistant to Sen. Grassley, as health policy assistant for the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance, and most recently served as a project manager at RuffaloCODY, LLC, in Cedar Rapids.

“I am committed to having an open door policy within my administration, ensuring open, honest and transparent government, and Alicia will be a great asset to my efforts,” said Branstad.

Branstad today also named Jimmy Centers as deputy communications director. In this role, Centers will assist communications director Tim Albrecht in managing press needs and maintaining the ongoing online efforts of the administration. Centers is a graduate of the University of Iowa, and served as Northeast Iowa field coordinator on the Branstad 2010 campaign.

“All three of these individuals care deeply about the state of Iowa, and will be an important part of our team at the Statehouse,” said Branstad. “Their excitement and enthusiasm will be beneficial to my administration, and I can’t wait to work with them.”