Two “exit” letters of note

State Representative Nick Wagner, a Republican from Marion, lost his 2012 bid for reelection to Democrat Daniel Lundby, son of the late Mary Lundby, a former state representative and former Republican leader in the Iowa Senate.  Wagner, a fiscal hawk who had been groomed by House leaders to be the next House Appropriations Committee chairman, sent out a final “Nick’s News from the Statehouse” newsletter this week:

As the next General Assembly is preparing to begin I want to take this moment to say Thank You.

I will not be returning to the statehouse as a legislator this year. I appreciate all of the support that I have received the past four years from other legislators, staff, the people of Iowa, the people of House District 36, and most of all, my family.  I enjoyed my time as a legislator and know I was able to make a difference. 

Legislators go to Des Moines for many reasons, mine was to do what was right for Iowa and fight for the hard working taxpayers of Iowa.  It’s something I did every day as a legislator.  My focus was on making sure the policies of Iowa were right for Iowans to be free and able to pursue their happiness. I still believe in these things and will continue to advocate for them. 

I wish the entire legislature well and hope they will continue to fight for what is right for the people of Iowa.  I no intents on making a career out of the legislature and always knew that I was not there for the long haul.  I was there to make a difference, not a legacy.  Many nights before leaving the capitol I would stop in the rotunda or on the deeply rutted steps and think about the many people that came before me and the many people that were to come after.  I am grateful that I had the opportunity and while I’ll miss it, I gave it all I had.

To my fellow Iowans, I wish you all well and would like, once again, to say

Thank You.
Nick Wagner

Tim Moran of Sioux City, a member of the Republican Party of Iowa’s State Central Committee, submitted a letter of resignation on Sunday, one day after 13 other members of the 18-member committee voted to reelect A.J. Spiker as Iowa GOP chairman. (Read a “live” blog or the Radio Iowa story about Saturday’s action.) Moran had nominated former Mason City Mayor/former legislator Bill Schickel for that post during Saturday’s meeting. Moran is moving out of the fourth congressional district, so he can’t continue to serve on the committee as the fourth district representative.

TheIowaRepublican.com posted quotes from Moran’s resignation letter email to friends & colleagues here.  Here is one segment:

“….We have an incoming administration at the State Party that has no interest in the ‘mechanics’ of organization….It’s unfortunate the incoming administration is not going to put a high premium on basic campaign tools,” Moran said.

Moran was a staffer for Mitt Romney’s 2008 presidential campaign in Iowa, Florida, and Alaska. From 2008 to 2011, he was an aide to Congressman Steve King. In 2010, he was an advisor to Republican Bill Northey’s successful campaign for reelection as state ag secretary.