Government : Steve Schmitt Announces Run for Iowa Senate District 38

Waterloo - Waterloo businessman Steve Schmitt announced today he is running for Iowa Senate District 38. Schmitt is a long-time resident of the Cedar Valley and served 12 years on the Waterloo City Council, is the former Black Hawk County Republican Chairman, has held numerous volunteer positions, and is father to six children and four grandchildren.

"I have spent decades working and volunteering in our communities in an effort to make the Cedar Valley a great place to work and raise a family," said Schmitt. "Running for the Iowa Senate is a tremendous opportunity to be an influential voice for our area as the legislature works to implement state policies and build stronger and safer communities in northeast Iowa."

"The Cedar Valley deserves someone who understands our needs, stands up for our values, and will help our communities grow and thrive. I am running for the Iowa Senate to cut taxes, create new career opportunities for our communities, and provide a needed voice for our area in state policy."

Schmitt began his professional career in the railroad industry working as a locomotive engineer for the Illinois Central Railroad. He served several years as a union representative with the United Transportation Union.

Schmitt began working in the telecommunications industry in 1983 serving in various sales manager and director positions with Teleconnect and McLeodUSA. He started his own company, Schmitt Telecom Partners, in 2001 and expanded it from 2 employees to 12 before selling it to Advanced Systems in 2016. He remained with the company as their Vice President of Telecommunications. The Gordon Flesch Company bought Advanced Systems in 2019 and Schmitt is their Director of Telecommunications Sales.

For many years Schmitt has been very involved in the community. He is a former Board President of the Downtown Waterloo Rotary, the Waterloo/Cedar Falls Symphony, Winnebago Boy Scouts, Salvation Army, Birthright, Sacred Heart Catholic Parish, National Cattle Congress, Waterloo Chamber Ambassadors and Waterloo Jaycees. He is a current or past Board member of Farm Bureau of Black Hawk County, Cedar Valley Arboretum, Boys and Girls Club of the Cedar Valley and a Trustee and Board member of the Sullivan Brothers Iowa Veterans Museum and Grout Museum of History and Science. Schmitt was a mentor for over 20 years in the Waterloo Public Schools and also served as a volunteer coach for his children's youth sports. For his service, he has been awarded both the Cedar Valley Mayor's Volunteer of the Year and the Governor's Volunteer of the Year awards.

Schmitt will seek the Republican nomination for Senate District 38 in the primary on June 4, 2024.

He served as Republican County Co-Chair for Black Hawk County from 2002 through 2008.