WASHINGTON — Jim Kurtenbach, the co-chair of the Republican Party of Iowa, has stepped down from his position to endorse Tim Pawlenty and work for the campaign, the Pawlenty camp announced Monday afternoon.

Kurtenbach is a former two-term state representative who has served as RPI co-chair since 2009. He is touted as an “expert in the field of financial accounting with extensive experience in information systems,” and is the dean of admissions for the Iowa State University College of Engineering. He will serve as a campaign co-chair in the state.

“I know it’s an unusual step to resign as party co-chairman, but I want to be very actively involved in supporting Tim Pawlenty because the stakes are so very high in the coming election,” Kurtenbach said in a statement. “He can beat President Obama, bring this country back together and get us going in the right direction again.”

In a statement, Iowa GOP Chairman Matt Strawn called Kurtenbach a “true public servant and a terrific partner in rebuilding the Iowa GOP.”

Devin Henry can be reached at dhenry@minnpost.com.