FAMILY APPOINTMENT: Branstad Defends Appointing Son To Commission

Governor Branstad defended the appointment of his son to a state commission at his regular press conference on Monday.

Last week the Governor appointed 29-year old Marcus Branstad to the Iowa Natural Resource Commission.

The position isn’t paid, but it does give Marcus Branstad a say in setting policies and hearing appeals in cases that involve conservation law and fish and wildlife matters.

Governor Branstad says his son’s love of hunting and fishing makes him qualified for the job. “He’s got 8 deer stands in 3 counties. He’s a bow hunter; he hunts with a shot gun and a muzzle loader. He hunts ducks and geese. He fishes and ice fishes.  I don’t know of someone that is more of a sportsman or who follows these things closer than Marcus Branstad.”

The Governor says he discussed his son’s appointment with Democratic Senate Leader Michael Gronstal and he was okay with it too.