Linn Democrats approve Mathis candidacy for Senate 18

HIAWATHA - Liz Mathis promised to work hard for Linn County Democrats and “do all I can to promote jobs and business and promote education” if she's elected to fill a vacancy in Iowa Senate 18.

“I'm going to work really hard for you when I win,” the former television anchorwoman, who lives near Robins, said after being nominated last night at a convention of Democrats from the district. It wraps around the northern and western areas of Linn County.

Mathis, 53, is well-known throughout Eastern Iowa for her 16 years at KWWL-TV in Waterloo and as an anchor, reporter and producer at KCRG-TV9 in Cedar Rapids from 1998 to 2007.

Now she's chief information officer for Four Oaks, a child welfare and juvenile justice agency, where she oversees legislative advocacy, public relations, marketing and development.

Mathis will face Republican Cindy Golding, a rural Cedar Rapids farmer and business owner, in a special election Nov. 8 to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Swati Dandekar, a Marion Democrat, from the Iowa Senate. Dandekar accepted Republican Gov. Terry Branstad's appointment to the Iowa Utilities Board.

If Mathis wins, Democrats will maintain their slight 26-24 edge over Republicans in the Senate; a Golding victory will mean a 25-25 balance.