Iowa House of Representatives

Rick Olson is serving his second term in the Iowa House of Representatives. He serves as Chair of the Labor Committee and also serves on the Environmental Protection, Judiciary, and Public Safety Committees as well as the Justice System Budget Subcommittee

A lifelong Eastside resident, Rick attended Grandview College and Drake University, receiving his law degree from Drake in 1976. Upon graduation from law school, he went to work as an Assistant Polk County Attorney. While an Assistant Polk County Attorney, Rick was a member of AFSCME. Rick entered private practice in 1979 and has practiced law in Des Moines for approximately 30 years. Additionally, Rick raises and races thoroughbred horses.

Rick is married to Brenda Olson, a realtor in Des Moines. He has three daughters, Kate, Lesley, and Samantha. (more…)

Donovan is serving his third term in the Iowa House and serves as Chair of the Environmental Protection Committee and also serves on the Economic Growth, Local Government, and Transportation Committees as well as the Agriculture & Natural Resources Budget Subcommittee. Prior to his election to the Iowa House, Olson served six years as a Boone County Supervisor.

Olson was born and raised in Boone, Iowa. He holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Community and Regional Planning from Iowa State University. He currently works at ISU as a distance education coordinator. Olson and his wife Sue have two children, a six-year-old daughter and a ten-year-old son. In his free time he coaches his daughter’s T-Ball team, enjoys reading and enjoys spending time with his family. Olson and his family are members of the Boone First United Methodist Church. (more…)

Tyler Olson is serving his first term in the Iowa House of Representatives, representing House District 38 which includes most of southeast and some of northeast Cedar Rapids. Tyler was elected with 65% of the vote. He serves on the Commerce, Economic Growth, Environmental Protection, Ethics, Human Resources and Ways & Means Committees.
Tyler was born and raised in Cedar Rapids, and has lived in House District 38 for almost his entire life. Tyler recently married his wife, Sarah Halbrook Olson, who works at the United Way of East Central Iowa.
Tyler is a sixth generation Iowan and fourth generation Cedar Rapidian. His father, Ron, operates a family-owned third generation small business in Cedar Rapids. His mother, Sue, is a social worker with experience at a number of Cedar Rapids human service agencies including the Child Protection Center, Madge Phillips Center, Young Parents Network and the Community Empowerment Board. (more…)

Jo is serving her third term in the Iowa House. She is the Chair of the Appropriations Committee and also serves on the Commerce and Judiciary Committees.

Jo graduated from Eagle Grove Community High School. Jo earned a Bachelor of Arts and Juris Doctor from Drake University. Since finishing school, Jo has split time between the private and public sectors. She worked for 10 years in the financial services industry. Jo worked for eight years in the office of the Insurance Commissioner, helping oversee one of the largest domestic insurance industries. She worked first in securities enforcement, and later as the First Deputy Insurance Commissioner. For three years she served as policy advisor to Governor Tom Vilsack. In this capacity, she advised the governor on the issues of health, human services, elder affairs, insurance, banking, utilities, and professional licensing. (more…)

Pat is serving his tenth term in the Iowa House of Representatives. He serves on the Administration and Rules Committee.

Pat Murphy was born on August 24, 1959, the ninth of ten children in the family of Larry and Eileen Murphy. He was born, raised and educated in Dubuque where his father worked for U.S. West and AT&T.

Pat graduated from Wahlert High School in 1977 and received his B.A. from Loras College in 1980 in speech communication with minors in political science and history. In addition to operating his own business, he has worked in various capacities at Mercy Health Center, CyCare Systems Inc. as a quality assurance analyst/document specialist, and Hillcrest Family Services as a youth care worker. He most recently served on the faculty at Northeast Iowa Community College. (more…)

State Representative Helen Miller (D-Fort Dodge) is serving her third term in the Iowa House of Representatives. She represents the 49th House District which includes Fort Dodge, Badger, Duncombe and Vincent. Miller serves on the Agriculture, Economic Growth, Environmental Protection, Veterans’ Affairs and International Relations Committees, and is also an assistant majority leader.

Helen Miller has accumulated more than 25 years of experience and leadership in such capacities as volunteer, mediator, legislative bill drafter, attorney, arts educator and board member of numerous organizations. She volunteers as the Executive Director of Young At Art, a nonprofit, community arts education and enrichment program, based in Fort Dodge. This organization sponsors the annual Artful Dodger Project. (more…)

Dolores Mertz is serving her tenth term in the Iowa House. She serves as the Chair of the Agriculture Committee and also serves on the Judiciary, Natural Resources, and Transportation Committees as well as the Agriculture & Natural Resources Budget Subcommittee.

Dolores Mertz was born May 30, 1928, one of three children of John and Gertrude Shay. She grew up in Bancroft, Iowa, where her father was a grain elevator foreman.

Dolores enjoyed public speaking and even wrote a three-act play which was performed at her high school. She graduated from St. John’s High School in Bancroft in 1946 and enrolled at Briar Cliff College. She earned an A.A. degree in elementary education in 1948. (more…)

House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy

House District 67
Des Moines
www.mccarthyforiowa.com

Kevin is the State Representative from House District 67. House District 67 covers the East and Southeast portions of Des Moines, all of Pleasant Hill, and a portion of Carlisle. Kevin grew up in Des Moines and attended Lincoln High School. He graduated with a B.A. from Wartburg College prior to attending Drake University Law School. During law school Kevin worked in the offices of Iowa’s Attorney General, Tom Miller. He eventually graduated from law school and went to work for the Tobacco Project in Washington D.C. He currently works in private practice with the Wandro & Baer Law Firm in Des Moines.

Rep. McCarthy was elected Majority Leader in the Fall of 2006 following the Democratic takeover of the Iowa House. While his responsibilities are primarily defined by tradition and House rule, there are certain duties that now customarily fall under the Leader’s control. These responsibilities include the scheduling of legislation for debate and the planning of daily, weekly and annual legislative agendas.

The Majority Leader works closely with the House Speaker to schedule debate on a weekly basis and set the agenda for the session. He is also expected to consult with members to gauge attitudes concerning legislation and communicate the party’s message to the media and public at large.

Mary Mascher is serving her seventh term in the Iowa House of Representatives. She serves as Vice Chair of the Education Committee and Chair of the State Government Committee. She also serves on the Human Resources Committee and the Education Budget Subcommittee.

Mary was born September 22, 1952, in Iowa City, the sixth child of twelve children of Harry and Lucille Seelman of Iowa City. The Seelman’s 420 acre farm is located in rural Johnson County.

Mary started school in Cosgrove and went to Regina Catholic High School in Iowa City, where she was elected junior class president. (more…)

Jim Lykam is serving his fourth term in the Iowa House. He serves as the Vice Chair of the Transportation Committee and Chair of the Public Safety Committee. He also serves on the Local Government, Natural Resources and the Transportation, Infrastructure & Capitals Budget Subcommittee.

Jim was born and raised in Davenport. He is a graduate of Davenport West High School and Palmer Junior College. He ran a small business for over 25 years.

Jim and his wife, Barb, have been married for thirty-four years. They live in Davenport. Barb is a nurse. They have one son: Jeff, 25. (more…)