Iowa’s ‘Marlboro Man’ announces new job

DES MOINES, Iowa - Former longtime Iowa legislator Brad Zaun announced that he is joining the Trump administration. Zaun, who was one of the few Republicans in Iowa to lose his seat in the general election last November, was an early supporter of Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign through the state.

Zaun served 20 years in the Iowa senate after previously holding office as mayor and city councilmember in Urbandale.

Trump has praised Zaun numerous times including a campaign rally in Waterloo on October 7, 2023. Trump said about Zaun, “I call him the ‘Marlboro Man.’”

Trump continued, “He’s a handsome guy.”

Zaun announced his new position with the administration in a LinkedIn post:

“I’m happy to share that I’m starting a new position as Regional Administrator, Region 7 (IA,NE,MO,KS) at Small Business Administration!”

A spokesperson with the U.S. Small Business Administration told Gray Media Iowa that the SBA has not yet publicly announced its regional administrators.

SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler, who served two years after getting appointed to a U.S. senate seat in Georgia before losing her campaign for a full term, said last month about the agency’s priorities:

“From day one, we will uphold the highest standards of accountability, performance, and integrity, where taxpayer dollars will be safeguarded, not squandered. We will streamline operations, drive efficiency, and ensure programs deliver real results. It’s a new day at the SBA, and I’m honored to lead a team that is committed to serving America’s job creators and citizens when disaster strikes.”

About the author: Midwest native Dave Price is Gray Television’s Iowa Political Director for nine stations that broadcast in the state and has been covering local, state and national politics from Iowa since 2001.

Dave produces and hosts “Inside Iowa Politics,” a weekly, in-depth show focused on interviews with top leaders on politics, issues, challenges and solutions that impact the state.

He has written two books about the Iowa Caucuses (“Caucus Chaos” and “Caucus Chaos Trump”). Email him at dave.price@gray.tv. Follow him on X (Twitter): @idaveprice Meta/Facebook: DavePriceNews Instagram: idaveprice and LinkedIn: Dave Price.

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