Iowa Public Information Board director resigns, to become Senate secretary

Charlie Smithson, the director of the Iowa Public Information Board, has resigned to work as Secretary of the Iowa Senate.

Smithson announced his resignation, effective Dec. 1, in an email to the board’s nine members last week.

The board was created by the Iowa Legislature to enforce the state’s open records and open meeting laws and began operation in July 2013.

Smithson started the job Dec. 1, 2014 and is the board’s second director, following Keith Luchtel.

Smithson, who is also the former director of the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board, did not immediately return a call for comment. Margaret Johnson, the group’s deputy director, will work as the interim director while the board searches for a replacement.

Ed Failor Jr., a senior aide to Iowa Senate Republican Leader Bill Dix, confirmed Wednesday that Smithson is being named as the Secretary of the Senate when the GOP takes majority control in January.