Swati Dandekar
Encyclopedia
Swati A. Dandekar is a former Iowa
state legislator and a Democratic
member of the Iowa Utilities Board
, awaiting Senate confirmation in 2012. Previously, she was a member of the Iowa House of Representatives
for the 36th District from 2003 to 2009 and a member of the Iowa Senate
for the 18th District from 2009 to 2011. She received her B.S. degree in Biology
and Chemistry
from Nagpur University and a graduate diploma in dietetics from University of Mumbai
. Dandekar serves as the Chair (formerly President) of the National Foundation for Women Legislators and as a board member of the Iowa Math and Science Coalition, the Greater Cedar Rapids Foundation, and the Belin-Blank International Center for Gifted & Talented. Dandekar previously served on the Iowa Association of School Boards, and as a board member of the Women in Public Policy (Iowa Charter),and the U.S. Center for Citizen Diplomacy.
, Dandekar was a two term member of the Linn-Mar Community School District
Board from 1996 to 2002. During that time, Governor Tom Vilsack
appointed her to the Vision Iowa Board, a post she held from 2000 to 2002. She began her legislative career in 2002, winning an election to the Iowa House District 36, defeating Republican
Karen Balderston. She won re-election twice, against Republican Cory Crowly in 2004 and Republican Nick Wagner in 2006, before running for the Iowa Senate. In 2008, Dandekar defeated Republican Joe Childers for election to Iowa Senate District 18, and served there until resigning in 2011 to accept Governor Terry Branstad's appointment to the Iowa Utilities Board for a term expiring in 2015.
While in the House, Dandekar served on the Appropriations, Economic Growth, and Economic Development Appropriations Subcommittee during all three terms, and served on the Education committee during her first term and the Transportation committee during her third term. While in the Senate, she served on the Commerce, Economic Growth, Rebuild Iowa, Transportation, and Ways and Means committees, while reprising her role as a member of the Economic Development Appropriations Subcommittee.
, recognition as a 2004 Flemming Institute Fellow and recognition by the Elliott School of International Affairs
' Global Economic Conference. In addition, she has been named Person of the Year three times, once in 2002 by India Abroad
, once in 2003 by the Asian Alliance of Iowa, and once in 2008 by AsianWeek
.
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
state legislator and a Democratic
Iowa Democratic Party
The Iowa Democratic Party is the local branch of the Democratic Party in the state of Iowa.-Current elected officials:Iowa Democrats are in control of the Iowa Senate, one of the state's United States Senate seats, and three out of the state's five United States House of Representatives seats. ...
member of the Iowa Utilities Board
Iowa Utilities Board
The Iowa Utilities Board is a public utilities commission, a quasi-judicial tribunal, which regulates telecommunications, transportation, electric and natural gas services in the U.S. state of Iowa.-External links:*...
, awaiting Senate confirmation in 2012. Previously, she was a member of the Iowa House of Representatives
Iowa House of Representatives
The Iowa House of Representatives is the lower house of the Iowa General Assembly. There are 100 members of the House of Representatives, representing 100 single-member districts across the state with populations of approximately 29,750 for each constituency...
for the 36th District from 2003 to 2009 and a member of the Iowa Senate
Iowa Senate
The Iowa Senate is the upper house of the Iowa General Assembly. There are 50 members of the Senate, representing 50 single-member districts across the state with populations of approximately 59,500 per constituency. Each Senate district is composed of two House districts...
for the 18th District from 2009 to 2011. She received her B.S. degree in Biology
Biology
Biology is a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. Biology is a vast subject containing many subdivisions, topics, and disciplines...
and Chemistry
Chemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
from Nagpur University and a graduate diploma in dietetics from University of Mumbai
University of Mumbai
The University of Mumbai , is a state university located in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. It was known as the University of Bombay until 1996 when the city of Bombay was renamed as Mumbai. The affiliated colleges of the university are spread throughout the city of Mumbai and four coastal districts in...
. Dandekar serves as the Chair (formerly President) of the National Foundation for Women Legislators and as a board member of the Iowa Math and Science Coalition, the Greater Cedar Rapids Foundation, and the Belin-Blank International Center for Gifted & Talented. Dandekar previously served on the Iowa Association of School Boards, and as a board member of the Women in Public Policy (Iowa Charter),and the U.S. Center for Citizen Diplomacy.
Political history
Before her election to the Iowa General AssemblyIowa General Assembly
The Iowa General Assembly is the legislative branch of the state government of Iowa. Like the federal United States Congress, the General Assembly is a bicameral body, composed of the upper house Iowa Senate and the lower Iowa House of Representatives respectively...
, Dandekar was a two term member of the Linn-Mar Community School District
Linn-Mar Community School District
Linn-Mar Community School District in Iowa encompasses , which includes the northern part of the city of Marion, an area in Cedar Rapids, part of the city of Robins and rural areas in Linn County, both south and north of the city of Marion.-Schools:...
Board from 1996 to 2002. During that time, Governor Tom Vilsack
Tom Vilsack
Thomas James "Tom" Vilsack is an American politician, a member of the Democratic Party, and presently the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. He served as the 40th Governor of the state of Iowa. He was first elected in 1998 and re-elected to a second four-year term in 2002...
appointed her to the Vision Iowa Board, a post she held from 2000 to 2002. She began her legislative career in 2002, winning an election to the Iowa House District 36, defeating Republican
Republican Party of Iowa
The Republican Party of Iowa is the affiliate of the United States Republican Party in Iowa. The State Central Committee is led by Chairman Matt Strawn and Co-Chairman Bill Schickel...
Karen Balderston. She won re-election twice, against Republican Cory Crowly in 2004 and Republican Nick Wagner in 2006, before running for the Iowa Senate. In 2008, Dandekar defeated Republican Joe Childers for election to Iowa Senate District 18, and served there until resigning in 2011 to accept Governor Terry Branstad's appointment to the Iowa Utilities Board for a term expiring in 2015.
While in the House, Dandekar served on the Appropriations, Economic Growth, and Economic Development Appropriations Subcommittee during all three terms, and served on the Education committee during her first term and the Transportation committee during her third term. While in the Senate, she served on the Commerce, Economic Growth, Rebuild Iowa, Transportation, and Ways and Means committees, while reprising her role as a member of the Economic Development Appropriations Subcommittee.
Recognition
Dandekar has received several awards, including the J. C. Penny Education Golden Rule award, the 2003 Pillar of the Community award from WaypointWaypoint
A waypoint is a reference point in physical space used for purposes of navigation.-Concept:Waypoints are sets of coordinates that identify a point in physical space. Coordinates used can vary depending on the application. For terrestrial navigation these coordinates can include longitude and...
, recognition as a 2004 Flemming Institute Fellow and recognition by the Elliott School of International Affairs
Elliott School of International Affairs
The Elliott School of International Affairs at the George Washington University is a professional school in international relations. It is located in the heart of Washington, D.C...
' Global Economic Conference. In addition, she has been named Person of the Year three times, once in 2002 by India Abroad
India Abroad
India Abroad is a weekly newspaper published from New York City, which focuses on Indian news meant for an Indian American, Indian diaspora and expatriate audience. The publication is known for its annual award ceremony for the "India Abroad Person of the Year."India Abroad was founded by Indian...
, once in 2003 by the Asian Alliance of Iowa, and once in 2008 by AsianWeek
AsianWeek
AsianWeek was a widely circulated publication of Asian American news, across all Asian ethnic groups, providing coverage of Asian-American issues such as the killing of Vincent Chin, Asian American college admissions, and quotas on Chinese students in competitive San Francisco examination schools...
.
Electoral history
External links
- Senator Swati Dandekar Iowa Legislature site
- Senator Swati Dandekar Iowa General Assembly site
- Swati Dandekar for State Senator Official constituency site