State Rep. Dick Taylor, 78, officially announced Monday that he would resign from House District 33, effective immediately, but the news wasn’t necessarily unexpected. Taylor, a Korean war veteran, cited family health concerns in his official announcement. The Taylor family also continues to grieve for their son, Linn County Sheriff’s Deputy Mark Taylor, who died earlier this year following a heart attack.

Gov. Chet Culver will have five days from the date he receives Taylor’s letter to set a date for the special election, which must be within 120 days of the resignation.

Norm Sterzenbach, Sr., a military veteran who has been a steady presence in county politics for years and currently serves as the county Democrats’ second vice chairman, is expected to make a bid for the seat. Kirsten Running-Marquard, 32, who works in U.S. Rep. Dave Loebsack’s office and is the daughter of former state Rep. Rich Running, has also been contacting local Democrats to drum up support.

Republicans, who nominated former GOP county chairwoman Kathy Potts to run against Taylor in 2008, have not yet indicated who among their membership has interest, but they have pledged to produce a candidate. Potts is seeking a seat on the Cedar Rapids City Council, and she will not be entering the House race.

Taylor entered the legislature following a 2000 special election to replace Kay Halloran, who is now Mayor of Cedar Rapids. The district, which typically elects Democrats, includes 11 precincts primarily on the city’s southwest side.

The special election for the Iowa House seat will be the second in the state this year. In the previous special election, in House District 90, Democrat Curt Hanson bested Republican Stephen Burgmeier by a handful of votes. In that race, conservative special interest groups attempted to make same-sex marriage an issue. In House District 33, because of its demographics, the Democratic nominee will have a strong chance of winning the seat, which means conservative interest groups may take a less active role in the campaign.

In special elections, political parties select nominees at conventions, attended by county party central committee members.

One key factor in deciding the Democratic nomination will be support from labor unions. Sterzenbach is a former business manager with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and is known for his strong ties to labor. His son is executive director of the Iowa Democratic Party. Running-Marquard also has support from other key union members.