Iowa official register

Olson, Steven N. – DeWitt (R) 

District 83 

Term:   Serving fourth term in House.  Profession:   Farmer.  

Education:   Attended Iowa State University. Memberships and 

Activities: Served two terms on Calamus School Board, Grand 

Mound Telephone Association, and past president of church council 

and Calamus Lions. Member of Iowa Cattlemen’s Association, 

Iowa Pork Producers Association, Farm Bureau, American Legion, 

Iowa Angus Association, DeWitt Area Foundation Board, DeWitt 

Development Company Board, Iowa Corn Growers Association, 

and St. John’s Lutheran Church. Birth and Residence: Born in 

1947 and raised in Calamus. Resides in DeWitt.  Family Members:  

Wife Eunice; two children and four grandchildren. 

 

 

 

Olson, Tyler – Cedar Rapids (D) 

District 38 

Term: Serving second term in House.  Profession: General man-

ager, Paulson Electric.  Education: Received B.A. in government 

and history at Claremont McKenna College in Claremont, Califor-

nia, and a J.D. from the University of Iowa College of Law.  Mem-

berships and Activities: Director of Neighborhood Revitalization 

Service. Member of New Bohemia Arts and Culture District, and 

founding director of Corridor Free Wireless, Inc. Member of Cedar 

Rapids Downtown Rotary, Young Lawyers Division Justice for All 

Committee, and First Presbyterian Church. Served as first chairman 

of the Cedar Rapids Downtown District Housing Team, director of 

Access Iowa, and as member of 15 in 5 Community Planning Com-

mittee’s Downtown and Riverfront Subcommittee. Past treasurer for 

the Linn Law Club.  Birth and Residence: Born in 1976 in Cedar 

Rapids. Resides in Cedar Rapids.  Family Members: Wife Sarah; 

one son. 

 

Palmer, Eric – Oskaloosa (D) 

District 75 

Term: Serving second term in House.  Profession:  Attorney.  

Education: Graduate of William Penn University and Drake Law 

School.  Memberships and Activities: Served two terms on the 

Oskaloosa City Council. Former judicial magistrate. Member, 

elder, and past treasurer and deacon of First Christian Church/

Disciples of Christ. Past president of the Oskaloosa Kiwanis Club 

and treasurer of the Nelson Trust. Former member of Hospice 

Board, Mahaska and Poweshiek County Democrats, Oskaloosa 

Chamber and Development Group, Grinnell Chamber of Com-

merce, and post master of Council Lodge #644 in Oskaloosa. For-

mer board member of Oskaloosa Municipal Housing Agency, Red 

Cross, William Penn University Alumni Board, Kids Korner, Mahaska County Sesquicentennial 

Commission, and former state legal counsel for Jaycees.  Birth and Residence: Born in 1960 in 

Oskaloosa. Resides in Oskaloosa.  Family Members: Wife Laurie; four children.    

 

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LEGISLATIVE BRANCH 

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Paulsen, Kraig – Hiawatha (R) 

District 35 

Term: Serving fourth term in House.  Profession: Attorney.  

Education: Received B.B.A. from Iowa State University, M.B.A. 

from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, and J.D. from the 

University of Iowa.  Military Service: Attended Officer Training 

School and served 10 years with the U.S. Air Force.  Memberships 

and Activities: Member of New Covenant Bible Church, American 

Legion Post 735, and various professional legal organizations.  

Birth and Residence: Born in 1964 in Monticello. Resides in Hia-

watha.  Family Members: Wife Cathy; one daughter and three 

sons.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Petersen, Janet – Des Moines (D) 

District 64 

Term: Serving fifth term in House.  Profession:  President and 

founder of Healthy Birth Day. Communications consultant.  Educa-

tion: Received B.A. in communications and public relations from 

the University of Northern Iowa and M.A. in integrated communi-

cations from Drake University.  Memberships and Activities: 

Member of the Democratic Leadership Council and Walnut Hills 

United Methodist Church. Board member of the Des Moines Arts 

Festival.  Birth and Residence: Born in 1970 in Des Moines. Re-

sides in Des Moines.  Family Members: Husband Brian Pattinson; 

two sons and one daughter.  

 

 

 

 

 

Pettengill, Dawn E. – Mount Auburn (R) 

District 39 

Term: Serving third term in House.  Profession: Legislator.  

Education: Purdue University, Mechanical Engineering.  Mem-

berships and Activities:  Member of the Optimist Club, Depart-

ment of Elder Affairs Commission, BILLD Fellow of Council of 

State Governments. Established the Mount Auburn Youth Council 

and serves as chaperone and advisor. Developed and implemented 

mandatory recycling program in Mount Auburn. Past president of 

the LaPorte City Women’s Club, past commissioner of Benton 

County Solid Waste Commission, past executive board director of 

East Central Iowa Council of Governments, past commissioner on 

Benton County Emergency Management Commission, past board 

member of Benton Economic Development Group. Member of the 

Trinity Episcopal Church.  Birth and Residence: Born in 1955 in 

Indianapolis, Indiana. Resides in Mount Auburn.  Family Mem-

bers: Husband Ron; two sons.    

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IOWA OFFICIAL REGISTER 

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