Former State Representative and Polk County Auditor Ned Chiodo formally announced on Monday that he will seek the Democratic nomination in Iowa Senate district 17, which Senator Jack Hatch is vacating to run for governor. Chiodo has been planning his campaign since last summer.

The district covering parts of downtown Des Moines and most of the south side will not be competitive in the general election, as it contains more than twice as many registered Democrats as Republicans. But the Democratic primary will be an epic battle featuring two giants of south-side politics (Chiodo and former State Senator Tony Bisignano) and Nathan Blake, a relative newcomer to Iowa politics. Bisignano has the backing of a large organized labor group. Blake goes into the primary as an underdog, but presumably his chances improve if Bisignano and Chiodo split the south-side vote.

A map of Senate district 17 is after the jump, along with Chiodo’s press release containing a short bio. His legislative priorities include expanding the “use of tax credits for neighborhood revitalization” and “reimbursing the City of Des Moines for the cost of services it currently provides to the State for free.”  

January 13 press release:

NED CHIODO ANNOUNCES CANDIDACY FOR IOWA SENATE DISTRICT 17

(DES MOINES)  Today, local business owner, Ned Chiodo of 3131 Fleur Dr announced that he will seek the Democrat nomination for Iowa State Senate District 17, representing the south-side of Des Moines.  “I am running for the Iowa Senate because I am committed to making the voice of the residents of Senate District 17 heard at the Capital,” said Chiodo.  “Like the residents of Senate District 17, I want to play an active role in making my community a safer, better place to raise a family, run a business, and forge a future filled with unlimited promise.”

Chiodo was previously elected to five terms in the Iowa House of Representative and one term as Polk County Auditor and feels that personal values make a difference in how one performs in representing the citizens of your district.  “My values are family comes first, integrity matters, justice should prevail, service above self, honesty is a given, humility is a gift and finally, proper behavior is a must,” explained Chiodo.

Chiodo’s legislative priorities will include:

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Expanded use of tax credits for neighborhood revitalization;

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Easing municipalities’ reliance on property taxes to pay for essential services;

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Reimbursing the City of Des Moines for the cost of services it currently provides to the State for free; and

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Preventing the State’s surplus from being spent on projects that do not directly benefit the citizens of Senate District 17.

Chiodo is a lifelong resident of the south-side having attended Park Ave School, St. Anthony School and Dowling High.  His entire family, including four boys and their families of ten grandchildren, mother, father, grandparents, brother and sister, all are south-siders.

Since 1970, Chiodo has managed Blank Golf Course located on the Southeast side of Des Moines.  He is a member of St. Anthony’s Catholic Church where his brother Monsignor Chiodo is the pastor.  He is a member of the Bellizzi MacRae American legion Post and the Societa’ Vittoria Italiana Lodge, among other groups.

Chiodo is also a longtime community activist having been politically involved with many boards and commission including three charter commissions which were charge with evaluating and changing local government structure, world trade center advisor committee, county compensation commission, and two county reapportionment committees among others.

The Senate District 17 covers the portions of south-central and eastern Des Moines.  The seat is currently held by Senator Jack Hatch who is running for Governor.

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Contact Ned at nfchiodo@mchsi.com