Guest commentary by Herb Strentz
A chance for Boswell to really be a good old boy
Leonard Boswell is a fortunate man. Unlike many politicians, he can write his own legacy.
Rep. Boswell could go down in Iowa history as a nice guy and a journeyman legislator, but also as someone who stuck around too long — so much so that he cost his Democratic Party a seat in Congress and was viewed as one of the last roadblocks to having an Iowa woman elected to Congress.
Or, Rep. Boswell can go down in history as a person who unselfishly dedicated most of his life to public service — in the military and as an elected official — and then capped his career by opening the door to the state’s first woman in Congress.
The choice is Boswell’s. He has the rare opportunity of making a shrewd political decision and doing the right thing at the same time. Most people never get such a win-win proposition.
If Boswell decides to seek an eighth term in the House of Representatives in 2010, his legacy will be the lesser. If Boswell, 75, decides he has served long enough and it is past time for an Iowa woman to serve in Congress — only Iowa and Mississippi have never had a female in the House or Senate — his legacy will be valued, one to be proud of.
Here is why:
Iowa will lose a seat in the House of Representatives after the 2010 census. In the 2012 election we will elect four people, not five, to the House. Right now, we have three Democrats and two Republicans. After the 2012 election will the split be 3-1 or 2-2? And will one of the Representatives after 164 years finally be a woman?
In large part it is up to Boswell.
A reasoned look at the current congressional districts suggests that after reapportionment Republican Steve King will have pretty much the same Western Iowa district (No. 5) he does now. Likewise, Democratic Reps. Dave Loebsack and Bruce Braley in Eastern Iowa districts 1 and 2 seem secure. But Republican Tom Latham (4) and Boswell (3) may be in the same District for 2012. (The boundaries for the new four congressional districts will be drawn by the non-partisan Legislative Service Bureau, a process envied by good-government folks in other states. So there is no guarantee where the lines will fall, but the Boswell-Latham pairing seems probable.) Boswell would be 78 in 2012 and perhaps would figure it is time to step down rather than to have to move to a new district or take on another incumbent; if that’s the case Latham seems a shoe-in as a nine-term incumbent against any newcomer, assuming his re-election in 2010.
Even if Boswell runs in 2012, he may have worn out his welcome, thanks in part to his decision not to step down in 2010 (or in 2008 for that matter).
If Boswell were not to seek re-election in 2010, however, the Democratic Party could field a competent and electable woman candidate who would have some congressional experience and some proof of her political mettle by the time she squared off against Latham or another opponent in 2012. Such a scenario is neither wishful thinking nor evidence of political acumen. An acquaintance suggested the Boswell option at lunch several weeks ago. And one of the more-respected political bloggers in Iowa suggested as much online several months ago, in December as a matter of fact (www.bleedingheartland.com/diary/2349/).
But the power and perks of the incumbency are difficult to shed for any political leader. Likewise, Democratic Party leaders in the state apparently lack the clout, courage or commitment to help Boswell end his public service in a way that best serves the Party and Iowa.
Perhaps I underestimate the Iowa Democratic Party and don’t know that they and Boswell are thinking along these same lines.
Regardless, Boswell’s legacy is in his hands.
Finally, even if redistricting turns out to have the Latham and Boswell seats in different districts, it still would be both shrewd and appropriate for Boswell to step down to help make way for the state’s first woman in Congress — 164 years is long enough to wait.
And that would be a great and deserved legacy for the Hon. Leonard Boswell. CV
Herb Strentz is a retired administrator and professor in the Drake School of Journalism and Mass Communication and writes occasional columns for Cityview.
