With Backing From GOP Leaders, Tim Goodwin Gets In SD 44 Race

By Elizabeth Meyer

February 12, 2020

With the retirement of Burlington Sen. Tom Greene at the end of session, Tim Goodwin announced his campaign today to keep Senate District 44 in Republican hands.

“As a former educator, I know the importance of good schools and the role they play in maintaining strong communities,” said Goodwin, in a press release Wednesday morning. “My years of experience in private business taught me the value of pro-growth economic policies to reward work and investment, expand career opportunities, and raise wages for workers in Southeast Iowa.

“Iowa can do more to lower the tax burden on working families and I will work to lower that burden,” he said.

Republicans currently control the Iowa Senate 32-18.

Though Goodwin is a first-time Senate candidate, this is not his first swing at a seat in the Iowa Legislature. In 2018, he lost an election to Burlington Rep. Dennis Cohoon, currently the longest serving member in the House of Representatives. Goodwin faced an uphill climb in House District 87, which encompasses the Democratic stronghold of Burlington. Goodwin lost the race with 4,596 votes compared to Cohoon’s 6,010.

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At the time, Goodwin said he would not make a run at the Iowa Legislature again. But a constant drumbeat of encouragement from top Republicans in Iowa and Washington, D.C., ultimately swayed him to give it another go.

“The outpouring of support and encouragement to run from local, state and national officials made this decision one that I did not take lightly,” Goodwin said in a post on Facebook. “A foundation has been laid and work has already started.”

Goodwin began his career with a position in the NBA working in community relations with the Boston Celtics and New York Knicks, but ultimately returned to Iowa to become a teacher and high school administrator. From there he worked for a locally owned trucking company in West Burlington and is now self-employed.

So far, Goodwin is the only Republican running in District 44. The filing period for candidates running in state elections begins Feb. 24 and closes at 5 p.m. March 13.

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On the Democratic side, former state Sen. Tom Courtney announced in August he was running to retake the seat that he lost to Greene in 2016.

Rex Troute, a retired newspaperman and author from Burlington, and Kevin Warth, a farmer from Des Moines County, also are running in the Democratic primary.

 

By Elizabeth Meyer
Posted 2/12/20

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