ABOUT DUSTY MAEDER

Dusty Maeder is a lifelong Iowan and educator of troubled youth. Working primarily with students in the state foster care and criminal justice systems, Dusty has seen first hand how poor leadership in Des Moines is ruining the lives of Iowan children. Motivated to improve conditions for his students, Dusty is here to fight to ensure EVERY Iowan has access to quality public education.

The needs of developing children is core to Dusty's own experiences. He watched as the local AEA taught several family members to speak. As a kid, Dusty struggled socially and emotionally with Autism Spectrum Disorder, something that failed to be identified or treated until later in his adulthood. Although Dusty credits this experience for the development of his determination, strength, and empathy, he wants a system with less folk slipping through the cracks.

Dusty believes in an Iowa built by and for Iowans. Complicit and complacent politicians in Des Moines have forgotten about the front line while Dusty’s been busy working it. When some have been just campaigning on the issues, Dusty has been living them alongside you, and learning from them. We live in a system where our government puts private greed over public need, and we need leaders willing to stand up for us. Dusty Maeder is no stranger to struggle, and he’s ready to teach Des Moines a lesson.

It's a long trail ahead. Are you with him?

One central figure to his upbringing was his late Grandma Jann, a second mother to him and his brothers. She taught Dusty many things, but most importantly, she showed him that life is better and easier when we care about one another. One day, Grandma Jann was complaining of chest pains, but refused to see a doctor because she ‘needed to save the money.’ That would end up being the last conversation the two ever had. Dusty believes the worst part of this is that he’s heard the same story come from too many other Iowans.

A proud graduate of Iowa Western, lack of housing and employment made it near impossible for Dusty to stay in Council Bluffs long after college- sadly, plenty of young adults are still running into the exact same issue today. Dusty spent the pandemic like many others: doing whatever he could to stay afloat, moving jobs and towns as opportunities came and went. Eventually, Dusty made his way back to Council Bluffs and moved in with his now-wife Shelby, a Council Bluffs native who he had befriended during college.