Michael Fitzgerald (Iowa politician)

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Michael Fitzgerald
25th Treasurer of Iowa
Assumed office
January 4, 1983
Governor Terry Branstad
Tom Vilsack
Chet Culver
Terry Branstad
Preceded by Maurice Baringer
Personal details
Born (1951-11-29) November 29, 1951 (age 72)
Marshalltown, Iowa, U.S.
Political party Democratic
Children Erin
Ryan
Alma mater University of Iowa

Michael L. Fitzgerald (born November 29, 1951) is an American politician and member of the Democratic Party who has served as the 25th State Treasurer of Iowa since 1983.[1] He is the longest-serving state treasurer in the United States.

Early life and career

Fitzgerald was born in Marshalltown, Iowa in 1951. His parents, James and Clara, were farmers, first near State Center and later Colo. He graduated from Colo Community High School in 1970 and received his bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Iowa in 1974. Fitzgerald worked as a marketing analyst for Massey Ferguson in Des Moines for eight years before being elected State Treasurer of Iowa in 1982.[1][2]

State Treasurer (1983-present)

As State Treasurer, Michael Fitzgerald acts as Iowa's trustee and custodian of the three state pension funds, and invests billions of dollars of state operating funds.[1]

He serves as administrator of Iowa's 529 plans, College Savings Iowa and the Iowa Advisor 529 plan, which offer families an easy, tax-advantaged way to prepare for future college tuition and expenses. These programs currently have more than four billion dollars in combined assets.[3]

When Treasurer Fitzgerald took office in 1983, unclaimed property was a little known program. In his first year as treasurer, he prioritized returning this money and began the Great Iowa Treasure Hunt, which has returned hundreds of millions of dollars since its founding.[4]

As the state's banker, Fitzgerald oversees and administers the Invest in Iowa program, a series of auctions he created in 1983 as a way to invest state funds in Iowa financial institutions at competitive rates.[5] The Linked Investments for Tomorrow (LIFT) program, introduced in 1986, also provides capital to Iowa's small business owners who wish to create or expand their business.[6] Treasurer Fitzgerald is committed to providing Iowans with unbiased financial information and education programs, and is an advocate of financial literacy at all ages. He has worked with Visa, the Iowa Student Aid Commission, the Iowa Student Loan Liquidity Corporation, Money Smart Week and many more to provide financial literacy opportunities to Iowans.

Appointments and awards

As state treasurer, Fitzgerald is active in national organizations that have an impact on issues in Iowa:[1]

In addition, Treasurer Fitzgerald serves on the following boards and committees in Iowa (* indicates voting member):[1]

  • Executive Council*
  • Honey Creek Premier Destintation Park Authority*
  • Iowa Centennial Memorial Foundation*
  • Iowa Comprehensive Petroleum Underground Storage Tank Board*
  • Iowa Cultural Trust
  • Iowa Grain Indemnity Board*
  • Iowa Higher Education Loan Authority*
  • Iowa Finance Authority
  • Iowa Lottery Authority
  • Iowa Public Employees Retirement System (IPERS)*
  • Peace Officers' Retirement, Accident and Disability System*
  • Rate Setting Committee*
  • State Appeals Board*
  • State Records Commission*
  • Southeast Iowa Regional Port Authority
  • Tobacco Settlement Authority*
  • Vision Iowa Board*

In 1989, City & State magazine named him one of the "most valuable public officials working in state government."[2]

Electoral history

State Treasurer of Iowa, 2014[7]
Party Candidate Vote Percentage
Democratic Michael L. Fitzgerald 53%
Republican Sam Clovis 44%
Libertarian Keith A. Laube 3%
State Treasurer of Iowa, 2010[7]
Party Candidate Vote Percentage
Democratic Michael L. Fitzgerald 53%
Republican David D. Jamison 47%
State Treasurer of Iowa, 2006[7]
Party Candidate Vote Percentage
Democratic Michael L. Fitzgerald 99%
Write-in 1%
State Treasurer of Iowa, 2002[7]
Party Candidate Vote Percentage
Democratic Michael L. Fitzgerald 55%
Republican Matthew Whitaker 43%
Libertarian Tim Hird 2%
State Treasurer of Iowa, 1998[7]
Party Candidate Vote Percentage
Democratic Michael L. Fitzgerald 55%
Republican Joan Fitzpatrick Bolin 43%
State Treasurer of Iowa, 1994[7]
Party Candidate Vote Percentage
Democratic Michael L. Fitzgerald 54%
Republican Jay Irwin 44%
Natural Law Party Elizabeth Koehler 2%
State Treasurer of Iowa, 1990[7]
Party Candidate Vote Percentage
Democratic Michael L. Fitzgerald 59%
Republican Burtwin L. Day 39%
Grassroots Party Derrick P. Grimmer 2%
State Treasurer of Iowa, 1986[7]
Party Candidate Vote Percentage
Democratic Michael L. Fitzgerald 58%
Republican John Nystrom 42%
State Treasurer of Iowa, 1982[7]
Party Candidate Vote Percentage
Democratic Michael L. Fitzgerald 51%
Republican Maurice E. Baringer 48%

Treasurer Fitzgerald considered running for Governor of Iowa against Republican incumbent Terry Branstad in 2014[8] but decided against it.[9]

External links

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 http://www.treasurer.state.ia.us/the_treasurers_office/meet_michael_fitzgerald/
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 http://publications.iowa.gov/135/1/executive/1-6.html
  3. ↑ http://www.treasurer.state.ia.us/for_citizens/saving_for_college/
  4. ↑ http://www.treasurer.state.ia.us/for_citizens/great_iowa_treasure_hunt/
  5. ↑ http://www.treasurer.state.ia.us/for_businesses/invest_in_iowa/
  6. ↑ http://www.treasurer.state.ia.us/for_businesses/lift_linked_investments_for_tomorrow/
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 7.6 7.7 7.8 http://sos.iowa.gov/elections/results/
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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