Rich Taylor (politician)

Rich Taylor
Member of the Iowa Senate
from the 42nd district
In office
January 14, 2013 – January 2021
Preceded byShawn Hamerlinck
Succeeded byJeff Reichman
Personal details
Born1954 (age 70–71)
Mount Union, Iowa, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseAnnette
Children2
Residence(s)Mount Pleasant, Iowa, U.S.
Military service
Branch/service United States Army
UnitIowa National Guard

Rich Taylor (born 1954) is an American politician who served as a member of the Iowa Senate for the 42nd district from 2013 to 2021.[1] A Democrat, he also served as assistant Democratic leader.

Early life

Born and raised in Mount Union, Iowa he graduated high school before joining Iowa National Guard.[2][3]

Career

After retiring from the National Guard, Taylor became an electrician. He worked for the Iowa State Penitentiary in Fort Madison for 26 years, where he was in charge of repairing and operating the heating, ventilation, air-conditioning and refrigeration systems.[4]

Taylor assumed office 2013, flipping the district after the previous incumbent Shawn Hamerlinck lost renomination due to a sexual harassment lawsuit filed against him.[5]

Taylor served as the ranking member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee. He was also a member of the Interstate Compact for Adult Offender Supervision State Council.[1]

Personal life

He resides near Mount Pleasant, Iowa with his wife Annette and their two children.[2]

Electoral history

Iowa Senate 42nd District election, 2012[6]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Rich Taylor 15,058 50.6%
Republican Larry Kruse 13,281 44.7%
Independent Michael Garmoe 1,396 4.7%%
Democratic gain from Republican
Iowa Senate 42nd District election, 2016[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Rich Taylor 13,434 50.31%
Republican Danny Graber 13,266 49.69%
Democratic hold
Iowa Senate, District 42 General Election, 2020[8]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Jeff Reichman 16,766 59.9
Democratic Rich Taylor (incumbent) 11,228 40.1
Total votes 27,994 100.0
Republican gain from Democratic

References

  1. ^ a b "State Senator". www.legis.iowa.gov. Retrieved 2020-02-06.
  2. ^ a b "The Voter's Self Defense System". Vote Smart. Retrieved 2020-02-06.
  3. ^ Eye, Laigha Anderson The Hawk. "Meet the candidates for Iowa Senate District 42: Rich Taylor and Jeffrey Reichman". The Hawk Eye. Retrieved 2021-07-23.
  4. ^ "Taylor elected assistant leader for Senate Democrats". KILJ Radio. 2018-11-14. Retrieved 2020-02-06.
  5. ^ Petroski, William. "Lawsuit accuses Iowa Senate GOP of firing staffer who complained of sexual harassment". Des Moines Register. Retrieved 2020-02-06.
  6. ^ "2012 General Election canvass summary" (PDF). sos.iowa.gov. Iowa secretary of state.
  7. ^ "2016 General Election canvass summary - President and Vice President" (PDF). sos.iowa.gov. Iowa secretary of state.
  8. ^ "General Election 2020 Canvass Summary" (PDF). Iowa Secretary of State. Retrieved December 2, 2020.