Son of Prominent Marion Republican Explains Why He is Running For Office as Democrat

Dianne Hoffman said she was watching the dedication of the Mary Lundby Bridge at the Pinicon Ridge Park in Central City.

It was named after the Marion Republican legislator, who passed away in 2009 after more than 20 years in the Iowa House and Iowa Senate.

"There was a huge crowd and it was very, very beautiful," said the Democratic Party chair for Linn County. "Tons of people were out there. That shows the great love and respect that Mary Lundby had in her community."

Hoffman wasn't there. But the event was notable enough to be broadcast on TV, which shows how well respected Lundby was on both sides of the aisle. Now, her son, a Democrat, is vying for Marion's Iowa House r.

We sat down and talked with the candidate. We've split the story in two; today we're talking about Lundby's upbringing with a renowned state senator and tomorrow we'll discuss the nuts and bolts of the race.

5-Year-Old Campaign Grunt

Lundby's said he's been campaigning since he was 5.

"I was active in my moms first campaign and every one after that," he said. "I was her campaign grunt; making phone calls, licking letters, getting friends involved...I’ve always been involved, even when I did not live in Iowa."

He brags that his experience with his mother has taught him how to knock on doors, where he can count on planting yard signs and how to develop lasting relationships with campaign contributors and voters.

"Daniel has this huge richness of connections in the community a very rich network to draw from," Hoffman said. "Daniel really knows just a huge number of people in his community through his mother."

His Mother's Son

But more importantly, he said, he took after the traits that made her an attractive candidate.

To Lundby, that means being a good listener, being a representative that acts as a loudspeaker for the districts concerns and making a concerted effort to cross the aisle.

"We’ve watched in the last two legislative session battles between the house the senate, the house and the house, the senate and the governor....  a six way battle," he said.  "I'd like to turn that battle ground into a cooperative workplace." 

From a Republican to a Democrat

Lundby himself has crossed the aisle, from a Republican like his mother, to a Democrat.

He said he empathizes with Republicans and their causes but differs from them in his passion for preserving the environment, opposing an amendment to Iowa's constituting to end same-sex-marriage and education.

In his campaign announcement Lundby said these are issues stances he shares with his mother, despite any difference in party affiliation.

Unfortunately, the needs of our young people now seem less important with the Republicans insisting on zero percent growth for local schools and education cuts to state universities. None of which my mother would approve of. Nor would she support cutting programs that protect our natural resources and our environment. She would definitely not support attempts to deny equal rights to any Iowan.

According to Wagner, Mary Lundby first encouraged him to run in 2008 and endorsed him as a candidate.

When asked how he felt about his mother endorsing his now opponent, he had this to say.

"I don’t want to put words into her mouth and he shouldn't either," he said.