Iowa official register

Dandekar, Swati A. – Marion (D) 

District 18 

Term: Served three terms in House. Serving first term in Senate. 

Profession: Legislator. Education: Graduated from J.N. Tata 

Parsi High School in Nagpur, India. Received B.S. in chemistry 

and biology from Nagpur University. Postgraduate degree in 

dietetics from Bombay University. Memberships and Activities: 

Board member for the Iowa Math and Science Coalition, Women 

in Public Policy (Iowa Charter), Greater Cedar Rapids Foundation, 

Belin-Blank International Center for Gifted and Talented, and U.S. 

Center for Citizen Diplomacy. Served two terms on the Linn-Mar 

Community School Board. Served as a member of Vision Iowa 

Board from 2000-2003. Recent recognitions include Pillar of the 

Community 2003 Award from Waypoint Organization, 2003 

Person of the Year from the Asian Alliance of Iowa, 2002 Person 

of the Year Award from India Abroad, 2004 Fleming Institute Fellow, Elliott School of 

International Affairs, Global Economic Conference, and 2000 J.C. Penney Education Golden 

Rule Award. Birth and Residence: Born in 1951 in Nagpur, India. Resides in Marion. Family 

Members: Husband Arvind; two sons and one grandson. 

Danielson, Jeff – Waterloo (D) 

District 10 

Term: Serving second term in Senate. Profession: City of Cedar 

Falls professional fire fighter. Education: Graduated from 

Waterloo Central High School. Earned A.A. from Hawkeye 

Community College. Earned B.A. (summa cum laude) in public 

administration and M.A. in public policy from the University of 

Northern Iowa. Memberships and Activities: Commissioner, 

Iowa Department of Transportation, 2003-2004, and Waterloo 

Planning, Programming and Zoning, 2001-2004. Board member of  

Black Hawk Economic Development, Inc., and Hawkeye Chapter 

Red Cross. Member of the UNI Leadership Advisory Board, 

Waterloo Exchange Club, life member of the Cedar Falls 

AMVETS Post 49, and Iowa Firemen’s Association. Past president 

Cedar Falls Firefighters Association – International Association of 

Fire Fighters Local #1366. Member of the American Council of 

Young Political Leaders (AYCPL) and Democratic Leadership 

Council (DLC). Birth and Residence: Born in 1970 in Waterloo. 

Resides in Black Hawk County. Family Members: Wife Kim; one 

son and one daughter. 

 

Dearden, Dick L. – Des Moines (D) 

District 34 

Term:  Serving fourth term in Senate. Profession:  Retired job 

developer for the 5th Judicial District. Education: Graduated from 

Des Moines East High School. Military  Service: Iowa National 

Guard, 1956-1962. Memberships and Activities:  Former chair of 

the Polk County Democratic Party, 1978-1980. Member of 

AMVETS, Izaak Walton League, Pheasants Forever, Ducks 

Unlimited, and National Wild Turkey Federation. Birth and 

Residence:  Born in 1938 in Des Moines. Resides in Des Moines. 

Family Members:  Wife Sharon; two sons, one daughter, and six 

grandchildren.  

 

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LEGISLATIVE BRANCH 

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 Dotzler, William A., Jr. – Waterloo (D) 

 District 11 

Term: Served three terms in House.  Serving second term in  

Senate.  Profession:   Retired machine operator and labor 

representative at Deere & Company. Education:  Received A.A. 

from North Iowa Area Community College and B.A. (cum laude) 

from the University of Northern Iowa. Military Service:  Served 

in the U.S. Army in military intelligence with top secret clearance 

in Berlin. Memberships and Activities:  Visiting Nursing 

Association (past president), Cedar Trails Partnership (charter 

president), Friends of Hartman Reserve Nature Center (past 

president).  Lifetime member of AMVETS Post 31, Area 7 

Regional Advisory Board, and charter member of Blackhawk 

Leadership.  Served as labor representative on the Iowa Workforce 

Development Council and on the Private Industry Council.  

Recipient of the Governor’s Lifesaving Award and Volunteer 

Award.  Birth and Residence:  Born in 1948 in St. Paul, 

Minnesota. Resides in Waterloo. Family Members:  One daughter 

and one grandson. 

 

Dvorsky, Robert E. – Coralville (D) 

District 15 

Term: Served four terms in House. Serving fifth term in Senate.  

Profession: Executive officer, 6th Judicial District, Iowa 

Department of Corrections.  Education: Received B.S. in 

recreation administration and M.A. in public administration from 

the University of Iowa.  Memberships and Activities: Member of 

Coralville City Council, 1979-1986. Board member of Community 

Corrections Improvement Association and Successful Living. 

President of the Housing Trust Fund of Johnson County. Member 

of the Criminal and Juvenile Justice Planning Commission, and 

Iowa Legislative Council.   Birth and Residence: Born in 1948 in 

Burlington. Resides in Coralville.  Family Members: Wife Susan; 

two daughters.  

 

 

 

Feenstra, Randy – Hull (R) 

District 2 

Term:  Serving first term in Senate.  Profession:    Iowa  State 

Bank Insurance Manager.  Education:  B.S. from Dordt College. 

M.A. in public administration from Iowa State University.  

Memberships and Activities:  Serves on Lewis and Clark 

Regional Water Executive Board, Sioux Center Hospital Executive 

Board, Chairman of the Sioux County Foundation Board, and 

School Foundation Board.  Birth and Residence:  Born in 1969 in 

Hull. Raised and resides in Hull.  Family Members:    Wife 

Lynette; two sons and two daughters.   

 

 

 

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IOWA OFFICIAL REGISTER 

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