Swati Dandekar

Swati A. Dandekar
Member of the Iowa Senate from the 18th district
In office January 12, 2009 – September 16, 2011
Preceded by	Mary Lundby
Succeeded by	Liz Mathis
Member of the Iowa House of Representatives from the 36th district
In office January 13, 2003 – January 12, 2009
Preceded by	Pat Murphy
Succeeded by	Nick Wagner
Personal details
Born	March 6, 1951[1] Nagpur, India[1]
Political party	Democratic[1]
Spouse(s)	Arvind[2]
Children	Ajai and Govind[2]
Residence	Marion, Iowa[2]
Alma mater	Nagpur University Mumbai University[2]
Website	Dandekar's website

Swati A. Dandekar (Marathi: स्वाती दांडेकर; born March 6, 1951) is a former Iowa state legislator and a Democratic member of the Iowa Utilities Board, awaiting Senate confirmation in 2012.^[3] 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.^[2] As of 2011 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.^[2] On July 23, 2013 Swati announced that she would be running for US Congress from 1st Congressional District.^[4]

Political history

Before her election to the Iowa General Assembly, 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.^[1][2] She began her legislative career in 2002, winning an election to the Iowa House District 36, defeating Republican Karen Balderston.^[5] She won re-election twice, against Republican Cory Crowly in 2004 and Republican Nick Wagner in 2006, before running for the Iowa Senate.^[6][7] 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.^[8][9]

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.^{[10][11][12][13]}

Recognition

Dandekar has received several awards, including the J. C. Penney Education Golden Rule award, the 2003 Pillar of the Community award from Waypoint, 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.^[2]

During her 2014 campaign for the Iowa 1st Congressional District Democratic primary, Dandekar was formally endorsed by the National Organization for Women.

Electoral history

Election	Political result		Candidate		Party	Votes	%
Iowa House of Representatives elections, 2002 [5] District 36 Turnout: 11,794		Democratic (newly redistricted)		Swati A. Dandekar	Democratic	6,770	57.5
				Karen Balderston	Republican	5,000	42.4
Iowa House of Representatives elections, 2004 [6] District 36 Turnout: 18,071		Democratic hold		Swati A. Dandekar	Democratic	9,843	54.5
				Cory Crowley	Republican	8,220	45.5
Iowa House of Representatives elections, 2006 [7] District 36 Turnout: 13,293		Democratic hold		Swati A. Dandekar	Democratic	6,987	52.6
				Nick Wagner	Republican	6,302	47.4
Iowa Senate elections, 2008 [8] District 18 Turnout: 39,752		Democratic hold		Swati A. Dandekar	Democratic	20,667	52.0
				Joe Childers	Republican	17,367	43.7

Personal life

Dandekar and her husband, Arvind, reside in Marion, Iowa.^[2] They have two adult sons.^[14]

References

1. "Project Vote Smart". Senator Dandekar biography. Retrieved 2010-11-06.
2. "Swati Dandekar Bio". Wired For Change. Retrieved 2011-09-25.
3. "Gov. Branstad names Senator Swati Dandekar to Iowa Utilities Board". Iowa Governor's Office (Press Release). 2011-09-16. Retrieved 2011-09-16.
4. "Meet Swati Dandekar, an Indian Woman in Race for US Congress". Retrieved 2 September 2013.
5. "Canvass Summary - Final - 2002 General Election (11/5/2002)" (PDF). Iowa Secretary of State. 2002-12-02. p. 27. Retrieved 2011-09-25.
6. "Canvass Summary - Final - 2004 General Election (11/2/2004)" (PDF). Iowa Secretary of State. 2004-12-06. p. 26. Retrieved 2011-09-25.
7. "Official Results Report - Statewide, 2006 General Election 11-07-2006" (PDF). Iowa Secretary of State. 2006-11-21. p. 34. Retrieved 2011-09-25.
8. "State of Iowa Official Canvass Summary November 4, 2008 General Election" (PDF). Iowa Secretary of State. p. 26. Retrieved 2011-09-25.
9. Clayworth, Jason (2011-09-16). "UPDATE: Senator resigns, leaving slim Democratic majority in jeopardy; special election Nov. 8". Des Moines Register. Gannett Company. Retrieved 2011-09-16.
10. "Iowa 80th General Assembly Swati Dandekar". Retrieved 2010-11-02.
11. "Iowa 81st General Assembly Swati Dandekar". Retrieved 2010-11-02.
12. "Iowa 82nd General Assembly Swati Dandekar". Retrieved 2010-11-02.
13. "Iowa 83rd General Assembly Swati Dandekar". Retrieved 2010-11-02.
14. Biography at Wired for Change

External links

• Senator Swati Dandekar at The Iowa Legislature
• Swati Dandekar for Congress
• Profile at Project Vote Smart