Wolfe joins race in open-seat Iowa City Statehouse district

After observing the Iowa Legislature from up close, Christy Wolfe is running to fill a seat in the Iowa House.

Wolfe, who has been clerking for her sister, Rep. Mary Wolfe, D-Clinton, is running for an open seat in House 90 in Iowa City. Most of the district is represented by Rep. Christina Bohannan, who is seeking the Democratic nomination to the U.S. House in the new southeast Iowa district.

Wolfe, 54, who has lived in Iowa City for 25 years, described the city as unique with the University of Iowa, Kirkwood Community College and “some of the best K-12 schools in the state.”

“We have families who move here and seniors who retire here because of the vibrant community and access to the arts,” she said. “As the Corridor grows, Iowa City needs a loud voice at the Capitol fighting for what matters to Iowa.”

Wolfe is the third Democrat announce for the seat. Andrew Dunn and Adam Zabner have filed their nomination papers.

Born in Des Moines, Wolfe grew up in Clinton. She attended Saint Mary’s College in Notre Dame, Ind., and received her teaching license at Indiana University in Bloomington. She returned to Iowa City in 1995 and earned a law degree at UI, where she served as president of the student chapter of the National Lawyers’ Guild. She also has a UI doctorate in education where she defended her dissertation on open enrollment in Iowa.

“Education is a part of who I am,” Wolfe said. She worked at Coe College in Cedar Rapids for 15 years helping students enter the teaching profession.

“I have watched this legislative session with equal parts frustration and awe — the lack of understanding about what teachers, librarians and school personnel do daily is amazing,” she said. “I plan to push back against the legislation that has taken its toll on teacher morale and disregarded teacher professionalism.”

Wolfe and her husband, Dan Carrell, have two children.

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