Trooper Who Drove Gov. Branstad Issued Speeding Ticket

Three months after a trooper allegedly drove Gov. Terry Branstad about 90 miles an hour on a northern Iowa highway, the officer has received a speeding ticket, reports KCCI.com.

Trooper Steve Lawrence was in Hamilton County on U.S. Highway 20 April 26 driving Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds; the governor's SUV was reportedly going 84 in a 65 mph zone, according to an Iowa Department of Public Safety news release.

Trooper Matt Eimers caught the speeding SUV but did not issue a ticket because it was the governor's official vehicle, the TV station reported.

The completion of a DPS investigation resulted in Trooper Steve Lawrence being cited for speeding on July 25, according to a DPS news release. Eimers did not receive discipline as a result of his compliance with departmental policies, state public safety officials said in their release.

A recent Quinnipiac poll said Iowans approve Branstad as governor, 51 to 33 percent. Other Patch readers disagree. 

"I witnessed Governor Branstad's utter disdain for educators at a forum where he supposedly was "gathering" information to help reform education in Iowa," one reader commented. "His lack of respect and gruff manner confirmed for me that he needs to retire from office. He lacks the energy, creativity and compassion needed to govern this great state."

"One term of Branstad was too much, never mind the possibility of a sixth," wrote Patch reader Lori Morris.

Read more comments from Patch readers here. 

Share your opinion on Branstad and the trooper incident in our comments.