Phil Thompson of Jefferson on the primary ballot
Incumbent State Representative Chip Baltimore, a Republican from Boone, is not seeking re-election. Three Republicans, including a Jefferson resident, are on the Repubican ballot for the 47th House District seat for the June 5 primary. The filing deadline for statewide and federal candidates was Friday afternoon.
Phil Thompson of rural Jefferson, a 2006 Jefferson-Scranton graduate and an Army veteran, filed a nominating petition. With Thompson on the Republican primary ballot are Victoria Sinclair and Don Batt, both of Boone.
David Weaver of Rippey is on the ballot in a Democratic primary, and the Libertarians will see the name of Patrick Shaw of Boone on the ballot.
Baltimore is serving the second year of his fourth term in the Iowa House. He told the Ames Tribune that is decision not to seek re-election is based primarily on having accomplished the goals he had when he first ran for office. He wanted to help create jobs in an improved business climate, make some changes in the criminal justice system to make it more fair and a better system for all involved, and to help balance the state’s budget and put it on a better footing fiscally.
He thinks those goals have mostly been met.
He said his decision not to run again was not based on his January arrest for operating while intoxicated and carrying a dangerous weapon while intoxicated. Baltimore pleaded guilty and was granted a deferred judgment on those charges. He is on probation for two years.
