DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds will soon become governor of Iowa, but she isn’t in a hurry to draw attention to herself or point to future changes in priorities or style.
For weeks since President Donald Trump announced he’d appoint Gov. Terry Branstad as ambassador to China, Reynolds has said little more than she’s ready to be governor and intends to implement policies backed by her predecessor.
Although it’s unusual for politicians to steer clear of the limelight, the 57-year-old Reynolds said in an interview with The Associated Press that she’s not trying to be an enigma. There will be plenty of time for her to lay out her vision for the state, she said.
“There’s one governor at a time,” Reynolds said. “And he’s still the governor.”
Exactly when Reynolds replaces Branstad remains unclear, as it depends on a confirmation process that will take weeks or even months.
Since they were elected in 2010, Branstad has never hidden his efforts to prepare Reynolds to eventually become governor. Branstad said he understands her decision to remain focused on the job of lieutenant governor until actually becoming governor.
“This is a different situation than somebody that’s running for governor,” he said. “She is the lieutenant governor. She was elected lieutenant governor. We were elected as a team. We’ve been working together on this agenda for the last six years. So it’s not surprising that she’s taken the approach that she’s taken.”
Kraig Paulsen, a former House speaker under Branstad and Reynolds, agreed the circumstances are unusual.
“It’s not every day that your governor gets selected to be an ambassador, especially in the middle of the session like they’re at right now,” he said.
Reynolds acknowledged taking a low-key approach publicly to her upcoming position, but said she believes in the priorities outlined by Branstad. She’s helped craft their plans, including recent budget recommendations that included cuts to some agencies.
Reynolds said she’s focusing now on the budget and later will spend time on other matters.
“There will be plenty of time for that,” she said.
Asked if she consciously avoids the spotlight, Reynolds said she sees herself as a worker and collaborator.
“Let’s get a vision, let’s get an idea and then let’s get out there and bring people on board or help have them be a part of what we’re trying to do,” she said. “It’s not about me.”
If Branstad is confirmed as ambassador before Iowa’s legislative session ends, Reynolds said she would carry out his remaining initiatives. That includes cutting state funding for Planned Parenthood, removing the rights of public workers to bargain for their health insurance, stopping individual counties from raising the minimum wage and implementing a voter identification program.
Reynolds said her governing style could differ from Branstad, noting she’s a good listener before adding that Branstad listens, too.
Once she becomes governor, Reynolds said she has no intention of disassociating herself from Branstad, either in the immediate future or if as expected she runs for governor in 2018. She’s raised more than $1 million for a possible run, though she hasn’t made a formal announcement.
“You can’t have it both ways,” Reynolds said. “You can’t be a team and a partner for six and a half years and then say, ’I didn’t have anything to do with that.’”
Whenever Reynolds takes over, she will oversee a GOP-controlled Legislature through 2018. Senate Democratic Minority Leader Rob Hogg, D-Cedar Rapids, said he remains hopeful Reynolds will govern differently than Branstad, despite her assertions on future policy.
“She will have the one moment,” he said. “I don’t know how long that moment will last. But there will be a period of time where she can come in and say, ’Here’s what’s going to be new and different about the Reynolds administration.’ I hope she takes advantage of it to do good things.”
Please read our comment policy before commenting.