INDEPENDENCE, Ohio, June 17 — Kenny A. Hansen was elected Chairman of the Iowa State Legislative Board at the Board’s quadrennial meeting in Altoona, Iowa, June 13-14, 2016.
A Union Pacific locomotive engineer and member of BLET Division 125 (Clinton, Iowa), Brother Hansen has held continuous membership in the BLET since January 1, 1996. He has served as Legislative Representative of Division 125 since 2009. Hanson was elected 3rd Vice Chairman of the Iowa State Legislative Board in 2012, moving up to 2nd Vice Chairman following the retirement of former Chairman Jeff Kurtz in 2014.
Additional officers of the Iowa State Legislative Board were reelected by acclamation: 1st Vice Chairman Michael G. Walker, Division 642 (Creston, Iowa); 2nd Vice Chairman Daniel L. Christensen, Division 114 (Waterloo, Iowa); 3rd Vice Chairman Kade T. Harl, Division 391 (Fort Madison, Iowa); Secretary-Treasurer Janet L. Schultz, Division 6 (Boone, Iowa); and Alternate Secretary-Treasurer Brian P. Gruntmeir, Division 391 (Fort Madison, Iowa).
Trustees elected during the quadrennial meeting were: Andy M. Barrett, Division 114 (Waterloo, Iowa); Joe M. Japel, Division 687 (Sioux City, Iowa); and Paul T. Shook, Division 200 (Davenport, Iowa).
“Congratulations and thank you to Brother Hansen and all officers of the Iowa State Legislative Board,” BLET National President Dennis R. Pierce said. “They will have their work cut out for them with the national election just a few months away, but I have every confidence that they are up to the task of educating legislators and candidates about our issues. I also wish to thank Brother Orlando Penrod for his service as Chairman and for his continued dedication to our Brotherhood.”
The delegates heard from Iowa’s former Lieutenant Governor Patti Judge, who addressed them via conference call. She is currently campaigning to represent the State of Iowa in the U.S. Senate.
Outside of election of officers, the delegates spend the majority of their time conducting a significant re-write of their Bylaws.
Brother Hansen hired out as a welder in 1993 for the Chicago & NorthWestern Railroad at Clinton, Iowa. He transferred to engine service three months later and earned promotion to locomotive engineer in March of 1994. Brother Hansen and his wife Jody have been married the entire time he has worked for the railroad and they have three adult children.
The Iowa State Legislative Board is comprised of 12 BLET Divisions representing more than 1,350 active and retired members.