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Culver taps Judge for homeland security advisor

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By Todd Dorman | Monday, February 19, 2007 11:41 PM CST | () comments

DES MOINES – Gov. Chet Culver is appointing Lt. Gov. Patty Judge to be his top advisor on homeland security.

Judge will lead a team of top advisors including Iowa National Guard Gen. Ron Dardis, Department of Public Safety Commissioner Gene Meyer and Division of Homeland Security Administrator David Miller. Judge will take the lead role from Dardis, who has been leading the advisory team since July 2005.

“We need to be prepared to manage the unimaginable,” Culver said at a news conference this morning. “Patty Judge has been on the front lines.”

Culver said Judge, while serving two terms as Iowa’s secretary of agriculture, led efforts to create the Center for Agriculture Security and served on national groups exploring strategies for safeguarding the nation’s food supply. She also was among a group of Iowa agency heads who took part in preparedness drills and briefings.

Judge now will be in charge of communicating with federal and state agencies, coordinating response plans and overseeing budget issues.

“This is an important position,” Judge said. “And I appreciate the governor having confidence in me to fulfill it.”

Dardis, who also attended this morning’s briefing, said lieutenant governors in three other states fill a similar homeland security role. And Judge insists her new position won’t cut into her other duties.

“We feel good about the model we have in place,” Culver said.

Senate Minority Leader Mary Lundby, R-Marion, welcomed Judge’s appointment.

“I think she’ll do a wonderful job and I hope she’ll focus on food security,” Lundby said.