Iowa official register

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EXECUTIVE BRANCH ELECTED OFFICIALS 

 

The Administrative Services and Communications divisions of the office perform a host of 

unique functions, ranging from providing media information to handling special projects, receiv-

ing and processing special documents, and beyond.  For example, the Secretary of State is often 

statutorily required to serve as agent for service of process. In addition, the office receives and 

files voluntary annexation documents and “Chapter 28E Agreements” between governmental 

bodies. The office records land patents and stores all enrolled legislative enactments. All commis-

sions, proclamations, extraditions, and land patents are co-signed by the Secretary of State and the 

Governor. 

The Office of the Secretary of State preserves many original documents, including the Consti-

tution of the State of Iowa and the Acts of the General Assembly.  

 

See chapter 4 for information regarding the Office of the Secretary of State. 

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IOWA OFFICIAL REGISTER 

 

TREASURER OF STATE 

State Capitol, Des Moines 50319; [phone]; 

www.treasurer.state.ia.us 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MICHAEL L. FITZGERALD 

Treasurer 

Des Moines (D) 

Term: Expires January 2011. Profession: Serving seventh term as Treasurer of Iowa. Previ-

ously employed as a marketing analyst for Massey Ferguson Company, Des Moines, for eight 

years. Education: B.S. in business administration, University of Iowa, 1974. Memberships and 

Activities: Member and past president of the National Association of State Auditors, Comptrol-

lers, and Treasurers (NASACT), National Association of State Treasurers (NAST), Midwest 

Treasurers Association, and the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators. 

Birth and Residence: Born in 1951 in Marshalltown. Resides in Waukee. Family Members:  

Wife, Susan; one daughter and one son. 

 

The Treasurer of State plays a primary role in the management of state resources.  First, as the 

state’s cash manager, the Treasurer coordinates the financial services used by state agencies and 

maintains custody of state funds.  The Treasurer processes receipts, makes disbursements, and 

invests all state funds. The Treasurer accounts for state funds on a cash basis and balances regu-

larly with financial institutions and the Iowa Department of Administrative Services.   Second, the 

Treasurer coordinates the issuance of debt by state agencies and authorities, invests bond pro-

ceeds, and manages lease purchase financing for state agencies.  Third, the Treasurer administers 

the investment of two state pension funds: the Peace Officers’ Retirement Fund and the Judicial 

Retirement Fund.  The Treasurer serves as custodian for these funds, as well as the Iowa Public 

Employees’ Retirement System fund.  Finally, the Treasurer is a voting member of the following 

governing bodies: State Executive Council, State Appeal Board, Peace Officers’ Retirement 

Board, Vision Iowa Board, Iowa Public Employees’ Retirement System Board, Tobacco Settle-

ment Authority, Honey Creek Destination Park Authority, State Records Commission, Iowa Cen-

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EXECUTIVE BRANCH ELECTED OFFICIALS 

 

tennial Memorial Foundation, Iowa Comprehensive Petroleum Underground Storage Tank Board, 

and the Iowa Grain Depositors and Indemnification Board.  In addition, the Treasurer serves as a 

nonvoting member on all state finance authority boards. 

In addition, the Treasurer is responsible for a variety of consumer programs.  First, the Treas-

urer administers Iowa’s 529 College Savings Plan under the Iowa Educational Savings Plan Trust.  

The Trust was created in 1998 to provide Iowa families with a way to save for future educational 

expenses while providing state and federal tax incentives.  Iowa has two plans:  College Savings 

Iowa, sold directly; and the Iowa Advisor 529 plan, sold through advisors.  Second, the Treasurer 

manages unclaimed property reported to the office from companies across the country.  Treasurer 

Fitzgerald created the Great Iowa Treasure Hunt in 1983 to locate owners, and has returned mil-

lions of dollars to Iowans each year.  Third, the Treasurer administers the Small Business Linked 

Investments Program which provides capital for loans to be made by local financial institutions to 

small-business owners at a reduced interest rate.  Finally, the Treasurer prepares an annual report 

of bonded indebtedness of state and local governments in Iowa. 

See chapter 4 for information regarding the Office of the Treasurer of State. 

 

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IOWA OFFICIAL REGISTER 

 

EXECUTIVE COUNCIL 

Ch 7D 

Office of the Treasurer of State, State Capitol, 

Des Moines 50319; [phone] 

 

Name 

 

Type of Appointment 

 

Chester J. Culver, Governor.......................................................................................................Statutory 

 

Michael A. Mauro, Secretary of State .......................................................................................Statutory 

 Michael 

L. 

Fitzgerald, 

Treasurer of State ..................................................................................Statutory 

 

Bill Northey, Secretary of Agriculture.......................................................................................Statutory 

 

David A. Vaudt, Auditor of State ..............................................................................................Statutory 

 

GeorgAnna Madsen, Executive Secretary 

 

 

The Executive Council was created by the adoption of the Code of 1860. The Secretary of State 

acted as secretary of the council until the enactment of the Code of 1897, which provided for a 

secretary.  Among the duties placed upon the Executive Council by the Code of Iowa are the fol-

lowing responsibilities, which in some instances are limited to specific situations or cases:  to 

approve real estate transactions, to approve leases of public land, to authorize condemnation pro-

ceedings, to authorize and pay special assessments, to appoint legal counsel and special counsel, 

to authorize and pay court costs and litigation expenses, to settle or compromise legal claims, to 

approve bank depositories, to provide anticipatory and emergency funding, to administer funds, to 

act as the governing body for state employee insurance and benefit plans, and to canvass votes 

cast and required to be filed with the State Commissioner of Elections. 

 

Report of Executive Council Secretary 

Section 7D.6, Code of Iowa, provides that a report of the secretary of the Executive Council 

may be published in the Iowa Official Register. 

The council had 42 regular meetings in 2007, and had 46 regular meetings and convened four 

times as the Official Board of Canvass in 2008. 

There were no corporations authorized to issue stock in exchange for property or out of surplus 

in 2007 or 2008.

 

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