Linn-Mar superintendent among Branstad’s appointments to Board of Regents

Linn-Mar Superintendent Katie Mulholland is among three appointees to the state Board of Regents announced Friday by Gov. Terry Branstad.

Mulholland, 63, of Marion, along with Bruce Rastetter, 54, of Hubbard, and Nicole Carroll, 57, of Carroll, will serve six-year terms beginning May 1, pending confirmation by the Iowa Senate. They will replace outgoing regents Michael Gartner, Bonnie Campbell and Rose Vasquez, all Democrats from Des Moines whose terms expire April 30.

Of the new appointees, Rastetter is a Republican, Carroll is an Independent and Mulholland is a Democrat. Of the remaining regents on the nine-member board, four are Republicans and two are Democrats. Iowa law requires that no more than five regents can be of the same political party.

Getting geographical balance and representation from the three regents universities - the University of Iowa, Iowa State University and the University of Northern Iowa - was important to Branstad, Communications Director Tim Albrecht said.

“He wants to make sure that all the regents institutions and every corner of the state are represented,” Albrecht said.

Along with the three universities, the board also oversees the Iowa Braille and Sight Saving School in Vinton and the Iowa School for the Deaf in Council Bluffs.

Mulholland, who has been Linn-Mar superintendent since 2003, said Friday she thinks her K-12 education background will help her understand some key issues, such as the state funding mechanisms to the regents.

“It's an exciting opportunity to be part of making the transformations, making the changes, helping our universities and our whole education system continue to shine,” she said. “We have a great, great education system. I know we need to change and do a lot of things to get better, but we owe a lot as Iowans to our regents universities.”

Regarding her goals or pressing issues she sees facing the board, Mulholland said she would like the opportunity to speak with Branstad and Regents President David Miles to gather more details.

Mulholland earned bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees from UNI.

Her four children attended the UI.

Rastetter has a bachelor's degree from the UI and serves as the chief executive officer of Hawkeye Energy Holdings, LLC.

Carroll has a bachelor's degree from ISU and a law degree from the UI. She and her husband, Dr. John Carroll, have four children, all graduates of ISU.

Branstad in a statement pointed out the strengths of each appointee - Carroll with a rural background, legal training and experience as president of the Carroll Community school board; Rastetter with private-sector and business knowledge; and Mulholland's long career as an educator.

House Speaker Kraig Paulsen, R-Hiawatha, applauded Branstad's choices in a statement Friday.

Of Mulholland, Paulsen said “I know she brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the board. She's shown great dedication to educating Iowa's children.”