Paula Dierenfeld

Paula Dierenfeld has been the Mayor of Johnston since 2008 after serving eight years on the city council. She is an attorney in private practice in Des Moines. Prior employment includes being an Iowa Utilities Board Commissioner, serving as legal counsel to Governor Terry Branstad, research staff director in the General Assembly and as a staffer to Senator Chuck Grassley. Paula graduated from the University of Northern Iowa and received her Juris Doctorate from Drake University Law School.
 

Tom Tauke

Tom Tauke served Northeast Iowa in the United States Congress from 1979 to 1991. Prior to that he represented his hometown, Dubuque, in the Iowa Legislature.

He retired as executive vice president of Verizon Communications in 2013 and now serves on the boards of several public policy and non-profit organizations, including the Board of Regents of Loras College in Dubuque. Tom graduated from Loras in 1972 and received his Juris Doctorate from the University of Iowa College of Law.
 

Sara Fagen

Sara Fagen is one of the nation’s leading political and corporate issue strategists and has worked on over a dozen Iowa campaigns. Sara is a native of Dubuque and previously served as the White House Political Director for President George W. Bush. She has founded three companies since then, including leading analytics and media firms as well as serving as a partner at DDC Public Affairs. Sara began her political career at Drake University, when she was elected as the chairwoman of the Iowa College Republicans.