Roger Thomas (Iowa politician)

Roger D. Thomas (born December 13, 1950) is the Iowa State Representative from the 55th District. He served in the Iowa House of Representatives from 1997 to 2001 in the 32nd District and from 2003 to 2011 in the 24th District. He received his BS from Upper Iowa University.

Roger D. Thomas
Member of the Iowa House of Representatives from the 55 district
Incumbent
Assumed office January 13, 2003
Preceded by	Lee Rekow
Member of the Iowa House of Representatives from the 32nd and 24th district
In office January 13, 1997 – January 7, 2001
Preceded by	Roger Halvorson
Succeeded by	Leigh Rekow
Personal details
Born	(1950-12-13) December 13, 1950 Oelwein, Iowa
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Rosemary
Children	Rob, Ryan, and Rachelle
Residence	Elkader, Iowa
Alma mater	Upper Iowa University, Fayette IA
Occupation	Economic Development Director
Website	Thomas's website

As of September 2011, Thomas serves on several committees in the Iowa House - the Natural Resources, Veterans Affairs, and Ways and Means committees. He also serves as ranking member of the Economic Growth Committee and as a member of the Economic Development Authority Board. His prior political experience includes service as a trustee for Northeast Iowa Community College.

Electoral history

Thomas was first elected in 1996, defeating incumbent Republican Roger Halvorson. He left his House seat in 2001, in an unsuccessful bid for the Iowa Senate's 16th District, following incumbent Republican Lyle Zieman's retirement from the Senate. He lost the election to Republican Mark Zieman, the former senator's son. He was succeeded in the 32nd District by Republican Leigh Rekow. He contested the newly redrawn 24th District in 2003, defeating Rekow.

On March 13, 2014 Thomas announced he would not seek reelection to the Iowa House.[1]

*incumbent

House District 32 and Senate District 16 elections (1996 – 2000)

Election	Political result		Candidate		Party	Votes	%
Iowa House of Representatives elections, 1996 [2] District 32nd Turnout: 11,690		Democratic gain from Republican		Roger Thomas	Democratic	6,264	53.6
				Roger A. Halvorson*	Republican	5,424	46.4
Iowa House of Representatives elections, 1998 [3] District 32 Turnout: 9,480		Democratic hold		Roger Thomas*	Democratic	5,905	62.3
				Neil Schwake	Republican	3,575	37.7
Iowa Senate elections, 2000 [4] District 16 Turnout: 24,673		Republican hold		Mark Zieman	Republican	13,847	56.1
				Roger Thomas	Democratic	10,807	43.8

Election	Political result		Candidate		Party	Votes	%
Iowa House of Representatives elections, 2002 [5] District 24 Turnout: 10,199		Democratic (newly redistricted)		Roger Thomas	Democratic	5,649	55.4
				Leigh A. Rekow*[6]	Republican	4,548	44.6
Iowa House of Representatives elections, 2004 [7] District 24 Turnout: 13,672		Democratic hold		Roger Thomas*	Democratic	7,563	55.3
				Gale Severson	Republican	6,105	44.7
Iowa House of Representatives elections, 2006 [8] District 24		Democratic hold		Roger Thomas*	Democratic	unopposed
Iowa House of Representatives elections, 2008 [9] District 24		Democratic hold		Roger Thomas*	Democratic	unopposed
Iowa House of Representatives elections, 2010 [10] District 24 Turnout: 10,685		Democratic hold		Roger Thomas*	Democratic	5,282	49.4
				Michael Breitbach	Republican	5,160	48.3

References

1. "State Rep. Roger Thomas, D-Elkader, says he won't seek reelection". Des Moines Register.
2. "Iowa General Election - November 5, 1996" (PDF). Iowa Secretary of State. p. 451. Retrieved 2011-09-22.
3. "Iowa General Election - November 3, 1998" (PDF). Iowa Secretary of State. p. 425. Retrieved 2011-09-22.
4. "November 7, 2000 - General Election, Iowa Official Results, State Senate" (PDF). Iowa Secretary of State. 2002-07-16. p. 9. Retrieved 2011-09-27.
5. "Canvass Summary - Final - 2002 General Election (11/5/2002)" (PDF). Iowa Secretary of State. 2002-12-02. p. 27. Retrieved 2011-09-19.
6. Rekow was an incumbent from the 32nd District.
7. "Canvass Summary - Final - 2004 General Election (11/2/2004)" (PDF). Iowa Secretary of State. 2004-12-06. p. 22. Retrieved 2011-09-19.
8. "Official Results Report - Statewide, 2006 General Election 11-07-2006" (PDF). Iowa Secretary of State. 2006-11-21. p. 31. Retrieved 2011-09-19.
9. "November 4, 2008 General Election Results". Iowa Secretary of State. Retrieved 2011-09-19.
10. "Official Results Report, General Election held November 2, 2010" (PDF). Iowa Secretary of State. 2010-12-16. p. 65. Retrieved 2011-09-19.

External links

• Representative Roger Thomas official Iowa General Assembly site
• Roger Thomas State Representative official constituency site
• Representative Roger Thomas official campaign site
• Profile at Vote Smart

Iowa House of Representatives
Preceded by Roger Halvorson	32nd District 1997 – 2001	Succeeded by Leigh Rekow
Preceded by Willard Jenkins	24th District 2003 – present	Succeeded by Incumbent