Jerry Behn
Encyclopedia
Jerry Behn is the Iowa State Senator from the 24th District and Assistant Majority Leader in the Iowa Senate. A Republican
, he has served in the Iowa Senate
since 1997, and served as a Boone County
Supervisor
from 1995 to 1996.
Behn currently serves on several committees in the Iowa Senate - the Appropriations committee; the Commerce committee; the State Government committee; the Environment & Energy Independence committee, where he is the ranking member
, and the Ethics committee, where he is the ranking member. He also serves on the Administration and Regulation Appropriations Subcommittee.
Behn was last re-elected in 2008
with 22,970 votes (57%), defeating Democratic
opponent, former Iowa Senator Albert Sorensen
.
Behn was a candidate for the Republican nomination for governor in 2010
but withdrew, endorsing Terry Branstad. His platform included promoting fiscal restraint, preserving right-to-work, and allowing Iowans to vote on a constitutional amendment defining marriage as between one man and one woman. He called for voters to vote against retention
for those Iowa Supreme Court justices
who decided that Iowa's Defense of Marriage Act was unconstitutional in Varnum v. Brien
.
Republican Party of Iowa
The Republican Party of Iowa is the affiliate of the United States Republican Party in Iowa. The State Central Committee is led by Chairman Matt Strawn and Co-Chairman Bill Schickel...
, he has served in the Iowa Senate
Iowa Senate
The Iowa Senate is the upper house of the Iowa General Assembly. There are 50 members of the Senate, representing 50 single-member districts across the state with populations of approximately 59,500 per constituency. Each Senate district is composed of two House districts...
since 1997, and served as a Boone County
Boone County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 26,306 in the county, with a population density of . There were 11,756 housing units, of which 10,728 were occupied.-2000 census:...
Supervisor
County board of supervisors
The Board of Supervisors is the body that supervises the operation of county government in all counties in Arizona, California, Iowa, Mississippi, Virginia, Wisconsin, and Sussex County, New Jersey as well as a handful of counties in New York...
from 1995 to 1996.
Behn currently serves on several committees in the Iowa Senate - the Appropriations committee; the Commerce committee; the State Government committee; the Environment & Energy Independence committee, where he is the ranking member
Ranking member
In United States politics, a ranking member is the second-most senior member of a congressional or state legislative committee from the majority party. Another usage refers to the most senior member of a congressional or state legislative committee from the minority party. This second usage, often...
, and the Ethics committee, where he is the ranking member. He also serves on the Administration and Regulation Appropriations Subcommittee.
Behn was last re-elected in 2008
Iowa Senate elections, 2008
The 2008 Iowa Senate election were held on November 4, 2008. The Senate seats for the twenty-five even-numbered districts were up for election. Senate terms are staggered such that half the membership is elected every two years, with each Senators serving a four-year term...
with 22,970 votes (57%), defeating Democratic
Iowa Democratic Party
The Iowa Democratic Party is the local branch of the Democratic Party in the state of Iowa.-Current elected officials:Iowa Democrats are in control of the Iowa Senate, one of the state's United States Senate seats, and three out of the state's five United States House of Representatives seats. ...
opponent, former Iowa Senator Albert Sorensen
Albert Sorensen
Albert "Al" Sorensen served as a Democratic Iowa State Senator from 1991 to 1997. He joined the Senate after winning a special election in 1991, his predecessor, Jack Nystrom , having resigned to serve on the Iowa Liquor Commission...
.
Behn was a candidate for the Republican nomination for governor in 2010
Iowa gubernatorial election, 2010
The Iowa gubernatorial election of 2010 was held on Tuesday, November 2, 2010 to elect the Governor and Lieutenant Governor, who will serve a four-year term to begin on January 14, 2011...
but withdrew, endorsing Terry Branstad. His platform included promoting fiscal restraint, preserving right-to-work, and allowing Iowans to vote on a constitutional amendment defining marriage as between one man and one woman. He called for voters to vote against retention
Retention election
A judicial retention election is a periodic process whereby a judge is subject to a referendum held at the same time as a general election...
for those Iowa Supreme Court justices
Iowa Supreme Court
The Iowa Supreme Court is the highest court in the U.S. state of Iowa. As constitutional head of the Iowa Judicial Branch, the Court is composed of a Chief Justice and six Associate Justices....
who decided that Iowa's Defense of Marriage Act was unconstitutional in Varnum v. Brien
Varnum v. Brien
Varnum v. Brien, 763 N.W.2d 862 , is an Iowa court case in which six same-sex couples filed suit against Timothy Brien, Polk County Recorder, for refusing to grant marriage licenses to them...
.
External links
- Senator Jerry Behn official Iowa Legislature site
- Senator Jerry Behn official Iowa General Assembly site
- Senator Jerry Behn at Iowa Senate Republican Caucus