De Boef Speaks About Her Last Term In Office
State Representative Betty De Boef (R) at the Iowa House in January of 2011
Des Moines, Iowa – Every ten years, the district lines are redrawn across the state in order to accommodate shifting populations. So, once again Republican State Rep. Betty De Boef would be looking at moving in order to stay in the district she is serving.
De Boef and her husband Herold have done this once before, and with some thought they decided that once was enough. “For 10 years we’ve said ‘we did that in 2002; 2012, it will be time to retire’.”
Some of the things that lead De Boef into public service was her commitment to being pro-life, and “some of the things I strongly believe in have gone down hill since. You know, the whole marriage amendment issue was not even on the radar screen when I ran in 2000. I am very disappointed that I, at least, haven’t been able to see a constitutional amendment get started.” She went on to say that, “We’ve passed it out of the [Iowa] House twice, but never could pass it in the [Iowa] Senate.”
Doing more to help protect the unborn is something De Boef has and does strongly believe in. “We’ve always either had a democrat governor or a democrat controlling the senate since I’ve been in.” You can see Betty in action on the floor of the Iowa House HERE on this very subject.
One accomplishment that De Boef stands back and is proud of is the protections the legislature put in place in regards to imminent domain. “We passed language, and actually had to do an override of the Governors veto for the first time in 42 years, providing some protection from imminent domain.” She points out that there are other protections needed to help curb abuses of imminent domain. She pointed to an example in Page County where there is a current debate over a new lake, and some possible abuses of the imminent domain laws there.
“It’s very much a part of you [being a legislator], you see people come in here, they’re here for 30 years. That’s not the average, but there are people like that. I think it’s very hard, once you become a part of this family, to just walk away.” De Boef said of the time and friendships she has developed while being part of the Iowa House. “I’ve made the comment now, ‘If I can’t walk away now when I would not only have to move again, or I would have to run in a totally new district’.”
That new district would be House District 80, and it’s been 10 years since De Boef last represented portions of that area. The new district covers portions of Mahaska, Monroe, and Appanoose Counties.
De Boef says she has plans for next year to help keep her busy, “If I was home sitting in front of my computer following all of the debates, I think it would really bother me a lot.”
On the day I was interviewing De Boef, her husband Harold was delivering the red truck De Boef used for all of her parade appearances. “It kind of makes me a little sad,” De Boef said.
Betty said it best, in describing her time representing her districts over the years, “I am what I promote.”
