WATERLOO - It's "30 and out" - or, in this case, 30 and up - for Dave Brasher.

Brasher, the Iowa Falls-raised former Waterloo television news reporter and Chamber of Commerce executive, is leaving his 30-year post as Iowa director of the National Federation of Independent Business.

But he's not leaving NFIB. He's moving to Columbus, Ohio, to accept a promotion as NFIB's Midwest region state public policy director. He assumes his new duties June 1.

"This was my 30th (Iowa Legislature) session for NFIB," Brasher said. "We can call that a career, and hopefully share some of what I learned with my colleagues."

Since 1976, he's been the chief spokesman for 9,000 small business owners in Iowa. NFIB, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, is the largest small-business advocacy organization in the state.

Prior to that, Brasher, a graduate of the University of Iowa, was governmental affairs manager for the Waterloo Chamber of Commerce for two years. "Our big issue then was a state argument over whether you could build I-380 as a diagonal," he said.

And from 1972-74 he was a television news reporter for KWWL, when Grant Price was news director and Tom Petersen the anchorman. "I graduated from Iowa with (current KWWL anchor) Ron Steele," Brasher said.

"It's just a major personal and professional thing," Brasher said of his new job. "I had the opportunity before, but it wasn't the right time or somebody else I felt was better suited for the job had indicated their interest."

In his new job, Brasher will work with state NFIB directors in nine states, covering some 30,000 members - and he will be able to pick his successor in Iowa. "That'll be one of my first orders of business" in his new job, he said. His region covers Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Kentucky and West Virginia.

In assessing the Legislature's recent session, Brasher said, "It'd be hard not to give them a 'B.' " letter grade. He praised lawmakers for passing legislation restricting local government's ability to condemn private property through eminent domain proceedings for economic development projects; and a five-year phase-out of state income taxes on Social Security and pension income. He was disappointed at inaction on a House bill to make health insurance more accessible for small businesses; and decried inaction on property tax reform.

Brasher indicated he's tired of the constant partisan bickering that has plagued the Legislature and other public bodies. "It's just the nature of the beast these days nationally," he said. "It's become more strident, more partisan, all about the power - what do you have to do to keep it, or get it back. It's helped lead me to a decision I've made" to accept the regional NFIB promotion, which removes him one step from the political trenches.

Contact Pat Kinney at (319) 291-1484 or Pat.Kinney@wcfcourier.com.