Amanda Ragan

Amanda Ragan
Member of the Iowa Senate
from the 7th district
10th (2002 – 2005)
Incumbent
Assumed office
March 18, 2002[1]
Preceded by Merlin Bartz
Personal details
Born September 20, 1954
Mason City, Iowa
Political party Democratic
Residence Mason City, Iowa
Website Ragan's website

Amanda Ragan (born September 20, 1954) is the Iowa State Senator from the 7th District. A Democrat, she has served in the Iowa Senate since 2002. She has also served as the Executive Director of Meals on Wheels and of Community Kitchen of Northern Iowa.

Ragan currently serves on several committees in the Iowa Senate - the Appropriation committee; the Natural Resources committee; the Rules and Administration committee; the Veterans Affairs committee; and the Human Resources committee, where she is chair. She also serves on the Health and Human Services Appropriations Subcommittee, where she is vice chair.

Early Life and Education

Ragan was born and raised near Rockwell, and graduated from Rockwell-Swaledale High School. Ragan enrolled in North Iowa Area Community College receiving her A.A. She graduated cum laude from Buena Vista University with a B.A. in Human Services.

Iowa State Senate

Ragan is currently an assistant majority leader in the Senate. Ragan first joined the Senate when she won a special election to fill the vacancy caused by Republican Senator Merlin Bartz's resignation.[1][2]

In 2005 Ragan was targeted by several groups for her opposition to a proposed amendment banning gay marriage in the state of Iowa.[3]

Ragan was re-elected in 2006 with 15,138 votes (70%), defeating Republican opponent Kenneth D. Young.[4]

In 2008 as chair of the Senate Human Resources Committee Ragan was a direct player in the formulation of health care legislation that would cover more Iowan children and fix health care problems in the state of Iowa.[5]

Ragan was again re-election to the Iowa State Senate in 2010. Ragan defeated Republican candidate James Mills by a margin of 12,908 (60.4%) to 8,452 (39.4%).[6]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Senate Journal: Monday, March 18, 2002". Journal of the Senate. Retrieved August 23, 2009.
  2. ↑ B. Drummond Ayres Jr. (March 3, 2002). "Political Briefing; Mighty Focus on Race In Mason City, Iowa". New York Times. Retrieved August 23, 2009.
  3. ↑ Family group says Iowa lawmakers trying to quash gay marriage debate, vote
  4. ↑ 2006 Iowa State Senate elections data
  5. ↑ Lawmakers prepare for health care debate
  6. ↑ State of Iowa Official Results, 2010 General Election

External links

Iowa Senate
Preceded by
Merlin Bartz		 10th District
March 18, 2002 – January 10, 2005 		Succeeded by
Donald Redfern
Preceded by
Mike Sexton		 7th District
January 10, 2005 – present 		Succeeded by
Incumbent