Former aide to Iowa governor lands Apple job, after promoting a tax break for the company

A top aide to Gov. Kim Reynolds has taken a management job with tech giant Apple months after helping promote a $208 million incentive package for the company's planned Iowa data center.

Tim Albrecht left as Reynolds' deputy chief of staff to begin work at Apple in March as a regional manager of strategic initiatives. Albrecht's position is unrelated to the $1.3 billion complex the company is building in Waukee, according to the governor's office. The deal was negotiated and announced when Albrecht was Reynolds' senior adviser.

Supporters of the Apple project have argued that it's a landmark development for Waukee that will strengthen the state's tech industry. Critics have blasted the tax breaks pledged by the city and state, saying they're far too generous for a project that will only create 50 full-time jobs once construction is complete.

Albrecht, a longtime GOP public relations professional, was involved in planning and reviewing information for an Aug. 24 news conference in which Reynolds and Apple CEO Tim Cook announced the project to applause outside the Capitol, the governor's office confirmed.

Reynolds' press secretary Brenna Smith said Albrecht is working in Apple's education department, which has contracts to sell products to K-12 schools, universities and other government agencies.

Albrecht, who made $121,000 annually in his state job, referred questions to Apple representatives, who declined to comment.

Megan Tooker, director of the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board, said Albrecht is not barred from working for Apple but must comply with laws designed to prevent ex-state officials from cashing in on their influence. For instance, for two years after leaving state employment, officials cannot be paid by companies "in relation to any case, proceeding or application" with which they were involved in government.

Albrecht, 40, spoke by phone with Tooker on Feb. 20 about his prospective employment, according to an email exchange obtained under the open records law. Tooker sent him links to applicable laws and the board's key prior opinion on the matter. She said she hasn't heard from him since and that he didn't request a formal opinion for his situation.