Dr. Doug Butzier, the Libertarian Party’s nominee for U.S. Senate in Iowa, died earlier today while piloting a small plane. The Dubuque Sheriff’s Office has said that the plane crashed while approaching the Dubuque Regional Airport. Weather may have been a factor in the accident as heavy rain was reported in the area.
An Iowa native, Butzier was a practicing emergency medicine doctor and also the medical staff president at Mercy Medical Center. In 2007, he obtained an MBA from the University of Iowa. He is survived by a wife and two sons.
“He could get dressed up in a suit and talk in front of a big crowd but at the end of the day he was just a man of the people,” said Lee Hieb, the LP’s candidate for Governor of Iowa. “Iowa and the cause of liberty are diminished by his passing.”
“Dr. Butzier was one of the pillars of the emergency department for the past 17 years,” said Russell Knight, Mercy President and CEO. “His influence was felt throughout the hospital, as he led one of our key quality-improvement teams with skill, knowledge, and enthusiasm, helping to produce the outstanding results Mercy has become known for. He was a leader among his peers, and we will all miss his strong, intelligent, thoughtful presence, and we express our collective condolences to Doug’s family, friends, and colleagues.”
Neither major party candidate in the hotly contested Senate race offered to suspend their campaign for a period of mourning, as would be customary if a major party rival had passed away. Both did, however, issue statements about Dr. Butzier’s passing…
From U.S. Senate Democratic candidate Bruce Braley: “I’m shocked and saddened to hear of the sudden and tragic death of Doug Butzier. I have enormous respect for anyone who puts their name forward as a candidate for public office. Carolyn and I send our thoughts and prayers to Dr. Butzier’s wife and family during this difficult time.”
From U.S. Senate Republican candidate Joni Ernst — “I am deeply saddened to learn the tragic news about Dr. Doug Butzier. I appreciated Doug’s willingness to contribute to this important election. In addition to representing Libertarians in this campaign, Doug served his community as an ER doctor and medical leader. Gail and I will keep Doug’s family in our thoughts and prayers as they mourn their untimely loss.”
While those are nice sentiments, it should be noted that both Mr. Braley and Ms. Ernst worked to exclude Dr. Butzier and several independent candidates from a recent televised debate.
With only a few weeks left and thousands of absentee votes already cast, Dr. Butzier’s name will remain on the November ballot.
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