This year’s primary for District 44 includes three Democrats and two Republicans.
The 44th District of the Iowa Senate is located in southeastern Iowa, and is currently composed of Des Moines, Louisa, and Muscatine Counties. Thomas Greene is the current Senator representing the 44th district.
The following information focuses on who the candidates are what they’ve done thus far in their political careers.
Tim Goodwin (R)
Tim Goodwin hails from Burlington, IA. Goodwin attended Western Illinois University as well as the University of Northern Iowa. He garnered BA, Physical Education, an MA, Sport Management and a PhD, Superintendent’s.
“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. “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.”
Goodwin is married and has three children and resides in Burlington.
Rex Troute (D)
Rex Troute, 63, threw his hat into the ring to unseat Thomas Greene on August 7th of last year. Troute retired as business editor at The Hawk Eye newspaper back in 2017 after 26 years. Troute is a 1974 graduate of Burlington High School, and a 1978 graduate of Iowa State University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in industrial administration — what today would be a business degree. Troute said he sees the diversity of its population as a strength of District 44. As a member of the Iowa Senate, Troute said he would like to see Iowa become a leader, rather than a follower that waits to see how policies take shape in other states. Troute said minimum wage in Iowa lags behind all its neighbors except Wisconsin. His proposal is for a five-year plan to increase Iowa’s base hourly wage to $10.25, which is $3 more than today.
Matt Rinker (R)
Matt Rinker is currently a Burlington City Councilman who announced his candidacy on March 13th of this year.
Rinker is an insurance agent with Shelter Insurance in Burlington. He is a United States Navy veteran. In 2013, graduated from Western Illinois University with a degree in Political Science and Economics. He is running for State Senate “because I believe my experiences have prepared me to be an impactful candidate that has a true understanding of how much state government affects our daily life. I am problem solver and am a candidate that has a proven track record of getting things done.” Rinker was endorsed by the Hawk Eye newspaper. Rinker is married with four children and resides in Burlington.
Tom Courtney (D)
Tom Courtney has served once before. Courtney was the Iowa State Senator from the 44th District of Iowa and served as the majority whip. Courtney served six years in the U.S. Air Force as an air traffic controller. He worked for the Case/New Holland Co. in Burlington, and served six years as bargaining chair for UAW Local 807 and was the union production safety representative from 1988 until retirement in 2002.“After receiving amazing encouragement from many Southeast Iowans – including friends, neighbors and other concerned Iowans – I am running for the Iowa Senate again because I’m unhappy about the direction our state is heading,” Courtney said. “Too many politicians in Des Moines – including our current Senator – are focused on playing political games, supporting special interests, and hurting hard-working Iowans.” Courtney is married with three children.
Kevin Warth (D)
Kevin Warth announced his bid on September 4th of last year. Warth said in a press release, “I’m running for the Iowa Senate because it’s time to turn the page. We need new leadership that is solution oriented and turns away from the partisanship that has come to dominate our political discourse.” Warth also believes in the importance of access to affordable health care for all Iowans, including mental health services and women’s health services.Warth is a first-time candidate who grew up in rural Mediapolis and farms with his brother on the family’s land. He studied at the University of Iowa and received a bachelor’s degree in political science from Arizona State University.
