The Republican candidate for Governor has chosen the president of the Siouxland Chamber of Commerce as his Lieutenant Governor/running mate. Doug Gross says if he’s elected, 42-year-old Debi Durham will lead the Iowa Department of Economic Development. Gross says he doesn’t know of a more outstanding person in business and government and working to help improve the state. Gross formally made the announcement at an eight o’clock news conference.Gross says by appointing Durham the director of the Iowa Department of Economic Development; he’ll save the state 250-thousand dollars by closing the Lieutenant Governor’s statehouse office, getting rid of staff and the security detail that guards the Lieutenant Governor.Durham would become the third women elected Lieutenant Governor if the Gross/Durham ticket wins in November.Durham says she’s humbled by the honor and looks forward to getting on the campaign trail.Durham says she has no qualms about becoming Governor should Gross win, then be unable to serve.Gross will formally nominate Durham at the Iowa Republican Party’s state convention tomorrow in Cedar Rapids. In 1990, Iowa’s constitution was changed so the Lieutenant Governor was chosen by and ran with the Governor in the same way the President and Vice President run as a team at the national level. Joy Corning was Terry Branstad’s Lieutenant Governor. Sally Pederson has been Tom Vilsack’s Lieutenant Governor.
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