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By The Gazette Editorial Board

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Political impacts aside, state Sen. Swati Dandekar, D-Marion, has achieved another milestone in her public service career. Gov. Terry Branstad last week named Dandekar, subject to Senate confirmation, to the Iowa Utilities Board, a powerful position where her biology and chemistry education should serve Iowans.

Dandekar became the first India native to win a state legislative seat in the United States when she was elected to the Iowa House in 2002. Previously, she served as a Linn-Mar school board member and an original Vision Iowa Board member. She has received several national honors and earlier this year was installed as chair of the National Foundation for Women Legislators.

Dandekar, generally regarded as a pro-business Democrat, said after her appointment was announced that our state has a “great opportunity to be No. 1 in affordable energy and do it in a way that companies will want to come to Iowa and create jobs.”

We agree. We also want that effort to be balanced with affordable, effective policies that protect our natural resources and environment. We urge Dandekar to strive for that balance.

While we have not always agreed with her stands as a senator, including our skepticism about proposed legislation for the nuclear energy industry, we welcome this dedicated, qualified Iowan's Iowa Utilities Board appointment.