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Jeff Kurtz

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Jeff Kurtz
Member of the Iowa House of Representatives
from the 83rd district
In office
January 14, 2019 – January 10, 2021
Preceded byJerry Kearns
Succeeded byMartin Graber
Personal details
Born1954 (age 69–70)
Fort Madison, Iowa, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseDebbie
Children3
EducationSoutheastern Community College
Iowa State University

Jeff Kurtz (born 1954) is an American politician and retired locomotive engineer who represented the 83rd district of the Iowa House of Representatives from 2019 to 2021, which at the time consisted of parts of southern Lee County, including all of Fort Madison and Keokuk. He is a member of the Democratic Party.[1]

Early life

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Kurtz was born in 1954 in Fort Madison, Iowa. He graduated from Aquinas High School in 1972. He attended Southeastern Community College and Iowa State University. He joined the Santa Fe Railroad as a fireman in 1974.[1]

Political career

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Kurtz announced his candidacy for the 83rd district of the Iowa House of Representatives in 2018 after incumbent Jerry Kearns announced he would not seek reelection.[2] He won the Democratic primaries on June 5, 2018, with over 56 percent of the vote, and defeated Republican Jeff Reichman in the general election on November 6 by over 800 votes.[3] He was subsequently appointed to the Labor, Public Safety, Transportation, and Ways and Means committees.[4]

Kurtz endorsed Bernie Sanders for president in 2019.[5][6]

Kurtz ran for reelection in 2020 but lost to Republican Martin Graber by over 700 votes.[3]

Personal life

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Kurtz has a wife, Debbie, and three adult children. He resides in Fort Madison.[1]

Kurtz worked as a locomotive engineer with BNSF from 1975 to 2014. He has been a member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) for over 40 years, and served as president of BLET Local 391 for eight years, chairman of the BLET Iowa State Legislative Board for ten years, and BLET Legislative and Safety Director for ten years.[6]

Electoral history

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* = incumbent

Election Political result Candidate Party Votes %
Iowa House of Representatives Democratic primary elections, 2018 [3][7]
District 83
Turnout: 1,633		Democratic Jeff KurtzDemocratic92356.5
Bob Morawitz Democratic56134.4
Michael Hardy Democratic1468.9
Other/Write-in votes 30.2
Iowa House of Representatives general elections, 2018 [3]
District 83
Turnout: 10,274		Democratic Jeff KurtzDemocratic5,55254
Jeff Reichman Republican4,70545.8
Other/Write-in votes 170.2
Iowa House of Representatives Democratic primary elections, 2020 [3]
District 83
Turnout: 2,285		Democratic Jeff KurtzDemocratic2,28199.8
Other/Write-in votes 40.2
Iowa House of Representatives general elections, 2020 [3]
District 83
Turnout: 13,175		Republican Martin GraberRepublican6,96752.9
Jeff Kurtz* Democratic6,19747
Other/Write-in votes 110.1

References

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  1. ^ a b c "State Representative - All Years". Iowa Legislature. Retrieved June 6, 2024.
  2. ^ Parrott, Jason (October 15, 2018). "Jeff Kurtz - Iowa House 83 - Election 2018". Tri States Public Radio. Retrieved June 7, 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d e f "Jeff Kurtz". Ballotpedia. Retrieved June 7, 2024.
  4. ^ "State Representative - Bills & Committees". Iowa Legislature. Retrieved June 7, 2024.
  5. ^ Meyer, Elizabeth. "Sanders Lands 1st Iowa Legislative Endorsement With Ft. Madison's Kurtz". Iowa Starting Line. Retrieved June 7, 2024.
  6. ^ a b "Sanders Campaign Press Release - Iowa State Representative Jeff Kurtz Endorses Bernie Sanders". The American Presidency Project. Retrieved June 7, 2024.
  7. ^ "Election Night Reporting". Iowa Secretary of State. Retrieved June 7, 2024.
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