Meyer confirmed as public safety head

By JONATHAN ROOS
REGISTER STAFF WRITER

Gov. Chet Culver's appointment of Gene Meyer as public safety commissioner
received the approval of the Iowa Senate this afternoon, reversing a vote taken a week ago.

A handful of Republican state senators who had opposed the Democratic governor's selection of Meyer to head the Department of Public Safety switched sides.

Confirmation requires the approval of two-thirds of the Senate, or 34 members. Today's vote was 38-12. The Senate vote last Tuesday was 32-17, which fell two votes short of the number needed to make Meyer's appointment permanent.

GOP leaders have voiced concerns about whether Meyer, as a department “insider” who’d been in charge of the Division of Criminal Investigation until retiring in 2006, could fairly administer the entire state agency. The department also includes the Iowa
State Patrol, state fire marshal’s office and narcotics enforcement division.

Sen. John Putney of Gladbrook, one of the Republican senators who had a change of heart in voting for Meyer today, said concerns he had about the former West Des Moines mayor were laid to rest after conferring with law enforcement officials both inside and outside the Iowa Department of Public Safety.

“I personally am confident that Gene Meyer has the expertise and the vision to lead the Department of Public Safety,” Putney said.

Meyer, a political independent, was chosen by Culver in early January to begin serving as public safety commissioner.