Democratic candidate for Iowa governor Deidre DeJear spoke to an overflowing room in the Hotel Pattee Tuesday night, where more than 50 people gathered to hear her field questions and comments ranging from education and economic development to the flat tax and rural quality of life.
DeJear kept her stump speech short at about 10 minutes and used the rest of the time to answer questions. Her answers were also succinct, so there was plenty of time for questions — and even time for a selfie with Lobso, the Hotel Pattee’s three-legged mascot.
DeJear was the Democratic candidate for Iowa secretary of state in 2018 but lost in the general election to Republican Paul Pate. The Democratic activist helped lead Kamala Harris’s presidential efforts in Iowa in 2020.
She is the founder of Caleo Enterprises, a small business consulting firm.
DeJear was joined at the rally by Perry High School social studies teacher Gary Overla, who is running for the Iowa House of Representatives in the newly drawn Iowa House District 47. Overla will face Republican incumbent Rep. Carter Nordman of Adel.
