A leader in the Iowa legislature tells Des Moines’ resident gossip columnist, Civic Skinny, that House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy has been making none-too-subtle moves indicating he isn’t interested in running for re-election in 2010.

McCarthy, who was first elected in 2003, has discussed new careers with Gov. Chet Culver and others in the private sector, sources tell Skinny. The Des Moines Democrat serves as the second in command to House Speaker Pat Murphy, D-Dubuque. His district is considered one of the safest Democratic districts in Iowa, encompassing a large swath of Des Moines’ southeast side. So while McCarthy’s departure won’t mean a net loss for the Democrats, it could have impact on the workings of the House caucus.

If he does leave, it probably won’t break the heart of House Speaker Pat Murphy, who, no matter what Iowans for Tax Relief says, is not a jack-booted Nazi. The loafered American and McCarthy aren’t particularly close — Murphy is a voluble guy who wears his heart on his sleeve; McCarthy is a reticent guy who keeps his feelings to himself — and as a team they haven’t been particularly effective even though they have 56 of the 100 House members. They couldn’t round up enough votes to pass a bill desperately wanted by their labor backers, for instance, and labor’s other bills appear to be dead. But if McCarthy does bow out, there’s no obvious successor, which could make Murphy’s job even harder.

McCarthy did not respond to a request for comment from the Iowa Independent.

Skinny also reports that Iowa Farm Bureau President Craig Lang considering a run for governor, despite the fact that it would mean challenging Culver, the very guy who appointed him to the Iowa Board of Regents. Lang is the latest name to be floated as a possible Republican gubernatorial candidate in 2010, along with U.S. Rep. Steve King, state Rep. Christopher Rants, Iowa Agriculture Secretary Bill Northey, state Auditor David Vaudt and Ames businessman Bruce Rastetter. Sioux City businessman Bob Vander Plaats has already formed an exploratory committee to run in 2010.