Iowa

Like some of its neighboring states, Iowa elected women to statewide executive offices before electing any to a legislative seat.  

The first woman in its legislature was Carolyn Pendray of Jackson County; first elected in 1928, Pendray had a long career and served in both chambers.

Dolores Mertz Iowa Legislature.

Sally Penderson Iowa State University.

Carolyn Campbell Pendray (1881-1958)

    A native of Henry County and the daughter of Thomas Franklin Campbell and Harriet Emily Dutton Campbell, she attended Mt. Pleasant schools, passed the state teachers’ exam, and then taught in both rural schools and in Des Moines schools.   Carolyn Campbell became superintendent of schools for Henry County in 1912, a job she held for seven years, while she also taught summer classes at Iowa Wesleyan College.  She was almost forty when she married merchant William Pendray in 1920 and settled in Ottumwa, later moving to Maquoketa.

    Married educators were rarely employed in those days, and her attention switched to government.  Pendray became heavily involved in Democratic politics and, as the Great Depression hit Iowa farmers, became the first woman to serve in both the Iowa House and Senate.  The economy was so bad in this traditionally Republican state that she easily won the 1928 election to the House from Jackson County.  After two terms, she moved up to the Iowa Senate in 1932, where she again served two terms.  With the Democratic New Deal in place, she did not seek reelection in 1936.

    Pendray also supported many bills that promoted the equality of women, especially reforms of property and inheritance law.  She retired to Mt. Pleasant in 1950, but continued her staunch support of the Democratic Party.   She was also an active member in the Philanthropic Educational Organization at Maquoketa, the Daughters of the American Revolution, and the Federated Church in Mt. Pleasant.

    Throughout her political career, she was looked upon as a strong, resolute woman who rarely gave up a fight.  She died at 76, and with the revival of the women’s movement, Carolyn Campbell Pendray was inducted into the Iowa Women’s Hall of Fame in 1978.

Dolores Mertz (1928-)
Nominated by NFWL

    Dolores Mertz was born on May 30, 1928. She grew up in Bancroft, Iowa with her parents and two siblings. From 1936 to 1938 Dolores attended Briar Cliff College, successfully earning an Associate’s Degree in elementary education.  She married farmer H.P Mertz in 1951, and they had seven children.

    Her husband also served as Kossuth County supervisor. When he died in 1983, Delores took his place before being rightfully elected in 1984. Later, in 1988, she was elected to the Iowa House. She has now served ten terms as a State Representative and continues to serve in this office. She has become the senior Democrat on the Agriculture and Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee, and is also the first woman to become the House Agricultural Chair.

    She has held office and participated in many other councils and organizations which reflect her interests in agriculture and women’s issues, including the Board of American Legislative Exchange Council; ALEC’s Health and Human Services Task Force, where she was chair; a position as National Director of Women in Government; a member of the Council State Government Agricultural Task Force; a member of the Future Farmers of America Educational Advisory Council; and a member of the Humbolt chapter of the Soroptimist International and Business Professional Women organization.

    Dolores also remains active in the community as a member of Peter and Paul Church in West Bend. Along with her seven children she has eleven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Sally Pederson (1951-)
Nominated by NFWL

    Elected in 1998 and 2002, Sally Pederson is the current Lieutenant Governor of Iowa. After growing up in Vinton, Iowa, she received her degree in business from Iowa State University.

    Her political advocacy was largely influenced by her son, Ronald, who has autism. Because of this she has become an advocate for people with disabilities. In 2003, she hosted Iowa’s first statewide summit on Disability Housing. She also played an instrumental part in the “successful effort to pass legislation requiring insurance coverage for mental health.”

    Her son Ronald’s experiences in school have also led to an interest in developing a fair and equal educational system in Iowa. In a 2003 speech on education, Pederson stated, “Although my son has special needs, I’m come to realize that every child had special needs,” going on to say, “Our public education system is what undergirds our democracy and our democracy depends on the protection of the rights of minorities.” Taking action on her beliefs that public education necessitates a fair and equal environment, she has spoken out for the rights of homosexual students in schools.

    A self-described optimist, Pederson has also expressed an interest in ending domestic violence and child abuse, as well as encouraging volunteerism. In her 2003 Inaugural address she recalled her 1999 promise to volunteer once a week. She described it as “one of my most rewarding, inspiring, and encouraging experiences,” adding that her volunteer work, “has confirmed my belief in the importance of honoring volunteerism and in fostering public/private partnerships to make our communities better and stronger.”

    In 2004, she was awarded for her humanitarian efforts when she was inducted into the Iowa Women’s Hall of Fame.