Jeff Boeyink, who has served as executive director of the Republican Party of Iowa since February, has resigned in order to lead the Terry Branstad 2010 Committee.

“This is the next natural step in our exploratory process as we move from a volunteer effort to the acquisition of professional staff and financial resources to take Terry Branstad 2010 to the next level of effectiveness,” said Rick Schwarm, Branstad’s longtime friend who is leading the former governor’s exploratory committee. “This appointment does not signal any change in Terry Branstad’s status as a potential gubernatorial candidate. He continues in his role at Des Moines University and will make his plans known at a future date.”

Prior to joining RPI, Boeyink served as president of Iowans for Tax Relief where he worked for more than two decades.

Branstad filed paperwork to form an exploratory committee for a potential 2010 run for governor last week. He has long said he will announce his intentions by mid-October.