Army Vet Announces Campaign in Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District

DES MOINES, Iowa – Bill Schafer, 56, a retired Army colonel, announced on Twitter on Sunday that he will run for the Republican nomination in Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District race.

“I have served America’s Sons and Daughters as a United States Soldier and Civilian for over 37 years. Now it would be my honor to continue my life of service for the people of Iowa,” his statement on Twitter reads.

“My focus on running for congress is I sincerely believe that it is time to take action rather than complain at the coffee table,” Schafer’s Twitter statement added. “My purpose for running is to advance conservative values, protect our constitution, and solve issues for my fellow Iowans.”

Schafer who currently resides in Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District planned to retire in the Iowa 3rd Congressional District so that is where he wanted to run. He told Caffeinated Thougths that he was shocked and disappointed by the Republican loss of the seat in 2018.

He was born into an Army family. He spent 32 years with the Army and worked as a civilian with the Department of the Army at the Rock Island Arsenal for five.

Schafer graduated from East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania with a B.S. in Economics. As a distinguished military graduate, he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Army and became an infantry officer.

He also graduated from Infantry Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, Command and General Staff College and the Senior Service College. He earned an M.A. in Human Resources Management from Webster University in Missouri and an M.S. in National Resource Strategy from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces.

Schafer has served as a platoon leader, company commander, battalion commander, and brigade commander during his Army career that included two combat deployments once for Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm and once for Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Prior to his retirement from the Army, he served as Chief of Staff for the First Army. He resigned as Human Resources Director at the Rock Island Arsenal to run for Congress.

Schafer and his wife Robin have three adult children and reside near Tipton, Iowa, but plan to move to the district in the near future.

Schafer joins former Congressman David Young as the second candidate to formally announce. State Sen. Zach Nunn, R-Bondurant, last week announced a listening tour of the district prior to making a decision about the race.