Michael Fitzgerald (Iowa politician)

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

Michael Fitzgerald
25th Treasurer of Iowa
Assumed office
January 4, 1983
GovernorTerry Branstad
Tom Vilsack
Chet Culver
Terry Branstad
Kim Reynolds
Preceded byMaurice Baringer
Personal details
Born (1951-11-29) November 29, 1951
Marshalltown, Iowa, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Children2
EducationUniversity of Iowa (BA)
WebsiteGovernment website

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 five 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 affect 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 Destination 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*

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, 2018[7]
PartyCandidateVote percentage
DemocraticMichael L. Fitzgerald54%
RepublicanJeremy Davis42%
LibertarianTim Hird2%
State Treasurer of Iowa, 2014[7]
PartyCandidateVote percentage
DemocraticMichael L. Fitzgerald53%
RepublicanSam Clovis44%
LibertarianKeith A. Laube3%
State Treasurer of Iowa, 2010[7]
PartyCandidateVote percentage
DemocraticMichael L. Fitzgerald53%
RepublicanDavid D. Jamison47%
State Treasurer of Iowa, 2006[7]
PartyCandidateVote percentage
DemocraticMichael L. Fitzgerald99%
Write-in1%
State Treasurer of Iowa, 2002[7]
PartyCandidateVote percentage
DemocraticMichael L. Fitzgerald55%
RepublicanMatthew Whitaker43%
LibertarianTim Hird2%
State Treasurer of Iowa, 1998[7]
PartyCandidateVote percentage
DemocraticMichael L. Fitzgerald55%
RepublicanJoan Fitzpatrick Bolin43%
State Treasurer of Iowa, 1994[7]
PartyCandidateVote percentage
DemocraticMichael L. Fitzgerald54%
RepublicanJay Irwin44%
Natural Law PartyElizabeth Koehler2%
State Treasurer of Iowa, 1990[7]
PartyCandidateVote percentage
DemocraticMichael L. Fitzgerald59%
RepublicanBurtwin L. Day39%
Grassroots PartyDerrick P. Grimmer2%
State Treasurer of Iowa, 1986[7]
PartyCandidateVote percentage
DemocraticMichael L. Fitzgerald58%
RepublicanJohn Nystrom42%
State Treasurer of Iowa, 1982[7]
PartyCandidateVote percentage
DemocraticMichael L. Fitzgerald51%
RepublicanMaurice E. Baringer48%

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

gollark: It was determined that LyricLy would emit muon neutrinos.
gollark: Hmm, apparently Linux does not have very smart network QoS and trying to upload 80GB of backups breaks things which also need an internet connection.
gollark: Those are deprecated.
gollark: Well, unless you draw ω energy at once.
gollark: The infinite energy tetrahedra do *not* run out.

References
  1. http://www.treasurer.state.ia.us/the_treasurers_office/meet_michael_fitzgerald/
  2. 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. http://sos.iowa.gov/elections/results/
  8. Petroski, William (August 23, 2013). "Fitzgerald will disclose if he's running for Iowa governor by Labor Day". Des Moines Register. Retrieved September 23, 2013.
  9. Petroski, William (August 30, 2013). "Democrat Mike Fitzgerald rules out a run for Iowa governor". Des Moines Register. Retrieved September 23, 2013.
Political offices
Preceded by
Maurice E. Baringer		 Treasurer of Iowa
1983–present		 Incumbent
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