Zaun ready to challenge Boswell in Third District

Brad Zaun is fed up with the Fed.

The Iowa state senator from Urbandale had considered running for U.S. Congress in the past, but he finally reached his tipping point this time around following what he sees as out-of-control spending out of Washington authored by politicians who won’t listen to their constituents.

“I just cannot take it anymore. I don’t think that Leonard (Boswell) or most people in Washington D.C., regardless of party, are listening to us the people,” he said. “You have to live within your means, and they’re not doing that in Washington D.C., and that’s very frustrating to me.”

Zaun is among a crowded field of five Republicans squaring off for the chance to face Democrat incumbent Leonard Boswell in Iowa’s third congressional district next fall. Zaun believes his experience makes him stand out in the field of his competitors.

A state senator for the past five years, Zaun served for seven years as Urbandale mayor, two years on the city council and owned, Zaun’s Trustworthy Hardware in Urbandale for 18 years. His varied political experience put him close to the people he served.

“When you’re on a school board or you’re a mayor or a city council member, you are right next to the people. When there’s a pothole or streetlight burns out or a dog barking, you’re getting that phone call,” Zaun said, adding that he’s gained “the practical knowledge with how to solve problems.”

Zaun won three elections as a self-described underdog and believes he’s a battle tested candidate who can unseat Boswell. The Democrat was first elected to Congress in 1996 and has proven difficult to unseat since then. Zaun thinks the time is right in 2010 for the Republicans to take Boswell’s seat.

“If you’ve ever thought about running against an incumbent ... this is probably the time to run. You look at what’s going on with the tea parties and town meetings, people are upset. Mostly because they’re not being listened to,” he said.

In particular, Zaun said, he doesn’t like how Boswell appears to simply do whatever Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and the Democratic party tell him to do. Zaun vowed to remain independent, bridge party lines and stand up for what he sees as right, even if it means going against the party. He named deficit spending as one of the biggest issues facing the nation.