Candidate Profile: HD 99 Kurt Hubler
Kurt Hubler
‘Candidates 2011’ Archives
Candidate Profile: HD 91 Ron Fedler
Ron Fedler
West Point
Contact: 319-837-6174
Ron Fedler was born Aug. 23, 1950, the 10th child in a family of 13 children. Growing up in a family with so many kids, he learned the values of sharing and taking care of each other.
In 1968, Ron graduated from Marquette High School in West Point, Iowa. In May of 1970, he was drafted into the U.S. Army. There he served as a radio Teletype operator with a secret crypto clearance. After getting out of the Army, Ron came back to West Point and vowed to stay there for the rest of his life. Being away from his home state showed him that he grew up in a great part of the country and in one of the best places to live. He has never lived anywhere else since.
In 1973, Ron attended Fort Dodge Community College, where he took a course in bricklaying. He worked for Mike and Gary Sanders Masonry until 1977. He then worked for Leroy Bentler and Jet Gas Corporation. While working there, Leroy Bentler sold Ron Dugan’s Corner Convenience Store, which Ron rented out for 17 years. In 1994, Ron built a new Dugan’s Corner Convenience Store that is the current BP station in West Point; Ron sold the store in January 2004. On June 1, 1984, Ron began working as a correctional officer at the Iowa State Penitentiary in Fort Madison. He recently retired, and looks forward to dedicating his energies toward being a State Representative.
Ron married Mary Linn Frietag on Feb. 9, 1974. The couple have three children: Linus, 32; Nicole, 28; and Adam, 24. They have six grandchildren.
Ron is a lifetime member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in West Point. He was on the West Point Volunteer Fire and Rescue for seven years. He served as the American Legion commander for Holt-Gears Post 668 in West Point for one year and was delegated to the state convention. Ron also served one term as a city council member and two terms as mayor of West Point, from 1988 to 1992. Very busy with the convenience store and his job at the Iowa State Penitentiary, Ron chose not to seek a third consecutive term as mayor.
After selling the convenience store, Ron decided it was time to get involved in the community again, so he ran for mayor in 2005 and was elected to his third term.
Candidate Profile: HD 84 Sheri Carnahan
Sheri Carnahan
Davenport
Contact: 563-391-5217
Sheri Carnahan is a longtime resident of Davenport. Her childhood was spent on the family farm in Hillsdale Illinois until moving to Davenport at age 11. Sheri graduated from Davenport Central High School and attended the University of Iowa.
Sheri became active in her community after her husband, Tom, was the victim of a violent crime. Their resolve to become part of the solution led Sheri to become a member of the Davenport Citywide Crime Committee, Captain of “Emerald Drive Neighbors” neighborhood watch, a 3 term appointee to the Citizen’s Advisory Committee for Community Development Block Grants and Labor appointee to the Scott County Empowerment Board.
Sheri retired from Iowa Workforce Development in 2008 after 31 years of service. She served Iowa’s citizens for 17 years in Employment Services and Job Insurance programs and 14 years working with Iowa’s neediest citizens through the Promise Jobs program. While a State employee, Sheri served 3 terms as AFSCME Local 3011 President and Chief Steward, She also was a member of the 2003 and 2005 State employees’ negotiating team. Sheri is currently employed as a Political Field Representative with AFSCME IA Council 61 working with AFSCME members in the 1st and 2nd Congressional Districts of Iowa. She serves as a delegate with the Quad Cities Federation of Labor and is a member of Scott County Democrats.
Sheri and Tom, her husband of 12 years are the proud parents of a loving blended family. They have 4 adult children and 7 grandchildren.
Candidate Profile: HD 76 Nathan Clubb
Nathan Clubb
Sigourney
Contact: 515-360-0667
Nathan Clubb is running for the first time to serve in the Iowa House of Representatives. He’s currently finishing his studies in Political Science at Grinnell College.
Nathan is a fifth generation resident of Keokuk County. He was born in Sigourney and graduated from Sigourney High School in 2007. He is the youngest son of Richard and Kathy Clubb.
Nathan has previously worked for the National Defense University at Ft. McNair in Washington, DC researching Near East and South Asian affairs. He has also worked on Congressman Leonard Boswell’s congressional reelection campaign in addition to being the state student coordinator for Gov. Bill Richardson’s presidential campaign. Both of these positions gave Nathan the opportunity to talk with Iowans from the district about the problems they are facing and the ideas they have to move forward.
Candidate Profile: HD 74 Scott Ourth
Scott Ourth
Indianola
Contact: 515-208-7281
Scott D. Ourth of Ackworth, Iowa, currently serves as director of public affairs for Warren County, located in South Central Iowa.
Mr. Ourth is a graduate of Graceland College (Lamoni, Iowa). After college he took graduate courses at Central Michigan University (Mt. Pleasant, Michigan) and the University of Tennessee (Knoxville, Tennessee).
Scott’s career in public service began in Washington, DC nearly a quarter century ago. He first served on Capitol Hill as a policy analyst and congressional press secretary. Before long he was invited to act as senior advisor on several United States Senate, House of Representatives, and gubernatorial campaigns. In 1998, following his management roles in many successful, high-profile campaigns, he returned to Iowa to serve as 3rd Congressional District field director for Gov. Tom Vilsack and Rep. Leonard Boswell’s successful coordinated campaign. He later served as campaign director for Rep. Boswell’s 2000 re-election race. He has continued to act as senior consultant on many state and federal campaigns. In 2006, Scott served as state field director for Chet Culver’s successful bid for governor. He then became aide to the Majority Leader of the Iowa House of Representatives during the 2007 legislative session. Most recently Scott took a leave of absence from his administrative post to manage Congressman Leonard Boswell’s successful campaign during the Democratic primary of 2008.
A lifelong advocate for persons with disabilities, Scott served four years as an executive with ARC Michigan and Michigan Protection & Advocacy Service. While serving as Assistant Secretary of State under Iowa Secretary of State Chet Culver he managed a disability rights portion of the Help America Vote Act, a $1.3 million federal mandate to ensure handicap accessibility to nearly 2,000 federal polling places. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of Iowa Protection & Advocacy Services, Inc., a congressionally mandated disability-rights agency. Scott remains a devoted and passionate voice for equality and human rights.
Scott remains a dedicated friend of Graceland University. His family has been represented on the Graceland campus since 1924. He has supported the university financially for many years, and has dedicated the last six years to his membership on the Graceland Alumni Board of Directors. He is also an active member of the Community of Christ, and currently serves as a member of the Quorums of Seventy.
Scott swam 11 miles non-stop on two separate occasions across a portion of Lake Huron to raise funds for the American Cancer Society. He recently completed a non-stop hike of the 2,200 mile Appalachian Trail to raise money and awareness for children with developmental disabilities. Scott is married to Dr. Heather Ourth, assistant chief of pharmacy at the VA Hospital in Des Moines. Their son, Logan, is a fifth-grader at Emerson Elementary School in Indianola. Scott reads history, enjoys a variety of outdoor sports, and is a published author.