Rich Leopold, former Director of the Iowa DNR in the Chet Culver administration, has announced his intention to run for Governor as a Democrat in the 2018 election.

Leopold’s Wednesday announcement in Huxley makes him the first Democratic candidate in the state to officially announce his campaign. In an interview with Raccoon Valley Radio, Leopold described himself as an outsider with no ties to politics, but an understanding of how to make decisions in government. As DNR Director Leopold oversaw 11,000 employees and managed to guide the department through budget cuts without laying off workers. Leopold, now Polk County Conservation Director and a resident of Des Moines, says conservation and land stewardship are important to him, but he also wants to strike a balance between a healthy Iowa environment and a productive ag economy. He says farmers are willing to work with government if they understand how and why regulations are being put in place.

Leopold says despite Iowans voting for a Republican dominated congress, he feels his fiscally conservative democratic brand will resonate with voters.