Michael Fitzgerald (Iowa politician)

Last updated
Michael Fitzgerald
Michael L. Fitzgerald (24041306070) (cropped).jpg
25th Treasurer of Iowa
In office
January 4, 1983 January 1, 2023
Preceded byMaurice Baringer
Succeeded by Roby Smith
Personal details
Born (1951-11-29) November 29, 1951 (age 72)
Marshalltown, Iowa, U.S.
Political party Democratic
Children2
Education University of Iowa (BA)

Michael L. Fitzgerald (born November 29, 1951) is an American businessman and politician who served as the 25th Treasurer of Iowa from 1983 to 2023. A member of the Democratic Party, he was the longest-serving state treasurer in the United States. [1]

Contents

Early life and early 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 (1983–2023)

As State Treasurer, 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 Fitzgerald took office in 1983, he prioritized returning unclaimed property. [4]

As the state's banker, Fitzgerald oversees and administers the Invest in Iowa program, a series of auctions he created in 1983 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]

Fitzgerald lost reelection in 2022 to Republican candidate Roby Smith. [7] He held office for 40 years, making him the longest serving state treasurer in United States history. [8]

Electoral history

State Treasurer of Iowa, 2022 [9]
PartyCandidateVote percentage
Republican Roby Smith 51%
Democratic Michael L. Fitzgerald49%
State Treasurer of Iowa, 2018 [9]
PartyCandidateVote percentage
Democratic Michael L. Fitzgerald54%
Republican Jeremy Davis42%
Libertarian Tim Hird2%
State Treasurer of Iowa, 2014 [9]
PartyCandidateVote percentage
Democratic Michael L. Fitzgerald53%
Republican Sam Clovis 44%
Libertarian Keith A. Laube3%
State Treasurer of Iowa, 2010 [9]
PartyCandidateVote percentage
Democratic Michael L. Fitzgerald53%
Republican David D. Jamison47%
State Treasurer of Iowa, 2006 [9]
PartyCandidateVote percentage
Democratic Michael L. Fitzgerald99%
Write-in 1%
State Treasurer of Iowa, 2002 [9]
PartyCandidateVote percentage
Democratic Michael L. Fitzgerald55%
Republican Matthew Whitaker 43%
Libertarian Tim Hird2%
State Treasurer of Iowa, 1998 [9]
PartyCandidateVote percentage
Democratic Michael L. Fitzgerald55%
Republican Joan Fitzpatrick Bolin43%
State Treasurer of Iowa, 1994 [9]
PartyCandidateVote percentage
Democratic Michael L. Fitzgerald54%
Republican Jay Irwin44%
Natural Law Party Elizabeth Koehler2%
State Treasurer of Iowa, 1990 [9]
PartyCandidateVote percentage
Democratic Michael L. Fitzgerald59%
Republican Burtwin L. Day39%
Grassroots Party Derrick P. Grimmer2%
State Treasurer of Iowa, 1986 [9]
PartyCandidateVote percentage
Democratic Michael L. Fitzgerald58%
Republican John Nystrom42%
State Treasurer of Iowa, 1982 [9]
PartyCandidateVote percentage
Democratic Michael L. Fitzgerald51%
Republican Maurice E. Baringer (Incumbent)48%

Treasurer Fitzgerald considered running for Governor of Iowa against Republican incumbent Terry Branstad in 2014 [10] but decided against it. [11]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 "The Treasurer's Office".
  2. "Office of the Treasurer of State".
  3. "College Savings Iowa".
  4. "Great Iowa Treasure Hunt".
  5. "Invest in Iowa".
  6. "LIFT: Linked Investments for Tomorrow".
  7. "Election results 2022: Roby Smith defeats incumbent Michael Fitzgerald". 8 November 2022.
  8. "Iowa's Fitzgerald now nation's longest-serving state treasurer". 7 January 2019.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "Election Results & Statistics".
  10. 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.
  11. Petroski, William (August 30, 2013). "Democrat Mike Fitzgerald rules out a run for Iowa governor". Des Moines Register . Retrieved September 23, 2013.
Party political offices
Preceded by Democratic nominee for Treasurer of Iowa
1982, 1986, 1990, 1994, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022
Most recent
Political offices
Preceded by Treasurer of Iowa
1983–2023
Succeeded by