Essential Estrogen

(This post was updated at 5:45 p.m. to include an interview with Sen. Mary Lundby.)

In a move that won't surprise many in eastern Iowa politics, Iowa Senate Minority Leader Mary Lundby announced today that she would not seek re-election to the Legislature and instead will run for a seat on the Linn County Board of Supervisors.

The move follows two elections -- one last fall to increase the number of supervisors from three to five and a second held Tuesday, which determined how the new supervisors would be elected. Just more than 56 percent of those voting in Linn County chose to have the county divided into five districts of roughly 38,000 people. Candidates for the supervisor post would be required to live within the district, and only residents of that district could determine who would serve them at the county level.

In a telephone interview, Lundby, 59, said she made the decision to leave the senate more than a week ago.

"I told family, friends and colleagues about my decision," she said. "Yesterday, the election determined that Marion would make up about 60 to 70 percent of a new county supervisor district. Since I still want to be involved and serving my community, I thought that would be an opportunity."

There has been speculation that health issues may have played a role in her decision.

"My health was not a factor," Lundby, a cervical cancer survivor, said. "Matter-of-fact, on July 2 or 3 I was given a clean bill of health. I know this district and I want to continue to serve our community... and I think I can play a very important role as supervisor."

Lundby, who represents Iowa's 18th District, has not always found favor with fellow Republican Party leaders.

In an IowaPolitics.com profile, Lundby said the day in politics she would rather forget is "the day I lost the race for the speaker of the house after I had orchestrated and executed the Republican takeover of the house after 10 years of Democratic control... Some members told me I couldn't be speaker because Iowa was not ready for a woman speaker...in 1992."

Today, in speaking of the Republican caucus and their disagreements, she said, "Some of them are darn glad I'm leaving."

Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal says he has enjoyed serving with Lundby and that her departure, despite creating an opportunity in her Senate district, is not a cause for his personal celebration.

"I have served with Mary for many years and have always had a great relationship with her," Gronstal said in a telephone interview. "She was the first woman leader of the Republican caucus, and I will always remember her for being very strong on environmental issues."

With a reminder that the voters of the district ultimately will decide the candidate in the next election, Gronstal added that he and others in the Democratic Party have had individuals approach them about the possibility of running for the seat.

"I know that [state Rep.] Swati Dandekar is considering a run for that seat," he said.

Lundby has also heard speculation that Dandekar may seek her vacated seat.

"I wouldn't be at all surprised if that happened," she said. "Swati has served Marion well as a state representative; however, she is a Democrat and I am a Republican. I will never personally criticize her, but we do disagree on issues. I believe she works hard, loves our community and that she is a descent and outstanding human being."

Lundby, a native of Carroll and graduate of Upper Iowa University in 1971, still believes being "in the middle of the road philosophically and never taking your constituents for granted" is key to political success.

She has served in the Iowa Senate since 1994 and served in the Iowa House from 1986 to 1994. Before earning a seat in Des Moines, she served as co-chairwoman of the Linn County Republican Party, a member of the Linn County Republican Central Committee, and as staff assistant to Sen. Roger Jepsen.

"I will miss the incredible amount of information I had at my finger tips as a state legislator," Lundby said. "I will miss having the ability to call any number of state department heads on behalf of my district and being able to nearly immediately get someone in charge on the phone. I will miss my ability to help constituents solve problems at the state level."

That being said, Lundby is not entering into her decision lightly and already has begun to formulate plans on how she can best serve Linn County if elected as a supervisor.

"Having worked in Des Moines for so long, I think I can put my knowledge to use for the county," she said. "I believe I can help our county government better work with the state and have a more effective voice in Des Moines. I want to talk with governments throughout the county so that we can all work together. I also want to forge more public-public partnerships which I think will benefit Linn."

She also still has great faith in the voters in Linn County.

"I have always relied on the voters here in my district and in the county to know what they want," she said. "I will put out a plan and if the voters like it, I'll hear about it. If they don't like it... well, I'm sure I'll hear about that too."

Base pay for state senators in Iowa is $25,000 per year before taxes. Given her role as minority leader, Lundby made roughly $10,000 in addition to the base pay. Supervisors in Linn County are paid just over $84,000 per year before taxes.