Tim Goodwin (R-Burlington) is running to represent District 87 in the Iowa House of Representatives. He said he entered the race to provide a conservative voice for southeast Iowa in Des Moines.
Goodwin is one of two Republicans on the June 5th primary ballot, but it appears he will be the only one campaigning in the final weeks.
Travis Inghram (R-Burlington) did not respond to multiple requests from Tri States Public Radio for an interview. An announcement on his campaign's Facebook page from May 10 states that Inghram withdrew from the race to focus on his professional career. However, his name will remain on the ballot.
That means Goodwin will likely face incumbent Democrat Dennis Cohoon in November. Cohoon, who is running unopposed for his party's nomination, has represented the Burlington/West Burlington area in Des Moines for more than 30 years.
***NOTE – Tri States Public Radio interviewed Goodwin on April 28, prior to the passage of the fetal heartbeat bill and the adjournment of the legislature.***
Goodwin currently serves as director of administrative services for a trucking firm in Burlington. He previously worked in education as a teacher and an administrator and in public relations for several professional sports teams.
He said he’s thought about running for state representative for a couple years, adding that he feels now is the right time, given the conservative agenda underway in Des Moines.
“I think [elected office] fits my skill set,” said Goodwin. “I have always been someone who has ascended to leadership positions rather quickly in my career. I like the things that are going on in Des Moines right now, the conservative agenda that’s been able to take place the last couple of years and I want to continue that for years to come.”
Goodwin said he supports recent steps by the Republican-led legislature to boost mental health care funding and the passage of a water quality bill early in the session. But he said he would listen to and work with anyone in his district if he's elected.
“Yes, I am a conservative Republican, but that does not mean that I am not going to listen to someone on the other side of the aisle,” said Goodwin. “I think I have the ability to work with people of all political views, ages, sexes, whatever that comes down to to try to make a better Iowa and, more specifically, a better southeast Iowa.”
Goodwin said his top priorities if elected would be education and job growth. He said he supports the use of state tax incentives to attract businesses to the state or to encourage local companies to expand.
“We have to make this an attractive place for companies to want to come and set up shop because we have the skilled labor,” said Goodwin. “[Companies] are not just going to come because we are a nice state and [U.S. News and World Report] said we are #1. It’s a competition, so if another state is willing to give this, we have got to look at it, but we cannot give away the farm.”
Goodwin said he would support more oversight of how the incentives are used and the benefits Iowa receives from them.
On other issues
- Goodwin said he would not support cuts to public safety agencies such as the state police or corrections. He said he would also like to explore whether Iowa’s correctional system is doing enough to rehabilitate offenders.
- He said he would support legislation that would increase the penalty for illegally carrying a firearm in the hopes it could prevent crime by keeping repeat offenders off the streets.
- Goodwin said he’s only read about the concerns regarding Medicaid, so as he becomes more familiar with the issue he will push to correct pass mistakes made during the push for privatization.
- He said he does not know yet if the influence of President Donald Trump will affect down-ballot Republicans like himself. He said he supports the President, but would like to see him tone down the rhetoric. Goodwin said he is excited to share the ballot with Republican Governor Kim Reynolds.
