Tiffany O'Donnell, Women Lead Change CEO and former news anchor, running for Cedar Rapids mayor

[cigaretteman]

Tiffany O’Donnell, CEO of Women Lead Change in Cedar Rapids and a former TV news anchor at KGAN/KFXA, has begun a campaign to run for Cedar Rapids mayor against incumbent Brad Hart in the Nov. 2 election.


O’Donnell filed a statement of organization with the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board on March 12 and is expected to make a formal announcement Tuesday. Her paperwork states the committee’s chair is Michael O’Donnell and the treasurer is Jennifer Welton.


O’Donnell stated on her campaign website, tiffany4mayor.com, that she “will effectively bring our diverse community together” by sharing her vision of “a dynamic, inclusive city where the No. 1 priority is achieving a brighter tomorrow for all of us.”


O’Donnell grew up in Bettendorf and was Miss Iowa in the 1989 Miss America Pageant.


For 15 years, O’Donnell was a news anchor at KGAN/KFXA. In 2015, she joined Iowa Women Lead Change as its first chief operating officer. In 2017, she became the CEO, succeeding the co-founder.


She also has been active in many community organizations, including leadership roles at Kids First Law Center, Alzheimer’s Association of East Central Iowa, Revival Theatre Company, the Iowa Children’s Museum and ConnectCR, according to her website.


She served on the capital fundraising campaign for the NewBo City Market and later was vice chair of its board of directors.


O’Donnell is the co-chair of the statewide public/private EPIC Corporate Challenge serving with Gov. Kim Reynolds as the honorary chair. In 2020, O’Donnell led the addition of a metric to the Corporate Challenge that specifically identifies progress in advancing women of color.

Tiffany O’Donnell, Women Lead Change CEO and former news anchor, running for Cedar Rapids mayor

Tiffany O’Donnell, CEO of Women Lead Change in Cedar Rapids and a former TV news anchor at KGAN/KFXA, has begun …

www.thegazette.com

 

[Pinehawk]

Is Iowa just going to get all of its politicians from the TV news now?
Tami Wienseck
Liz Mathis
Ashley Hinson
Tiffany O'Donnell?

Ron Steele for Governor?

 

[CarolinaHawkeye]

Would

 

[hawkedoff]

I wonder how much longer we will need to keep seeing organizations with names like women lead change?

 

[cfbfan23]

 

[CleteyColgate]

Would

....20 years ago

 

[Rifler]

Is Iowa just going to get all of its politicians from the TV news now?
Tami Wienseck
Liz Mathis
Ashley Hinson
Tiffany O'Donnell?

Ron Steele for Governor?

Iowans have a very long history of voting for names they remember,.. It's the only possible way to explain Chuck Grassley's success...

 

[pezhawk]

No clue on her qualifications to be mayor, but I worked at the tv station with Tiffany in her first stint, and was always nice and pleasant, seemed very genuine. Same can't be said for others in that industry.

 

[dirtypool]

The only news personality i would even consider voting for as mayor would be beth malicki, but she proved after the derecho that she is probably more impactful in her current role

 

[cigaretteman]

No clue on her qualifications to be mayor, but I worked at the tv station with Tiffany in her first stint, and was always nice and pleasant, seemed very genuine. Same can't be said for others in that industry.

I remember you used to work at KGAN/KFXA back in the Bit Ten Fan Forums days. I'm glad to hear you say that about Tiffany. KGAN used to be the news station I watched at 6 and ten back in the Dave Shea days. I moved away from it after Sinclair took it over and I had to listen to Mark Hyman every night. I always wondered whether Maggie Jensen was pushed out in favor of Tiffany because Maggie wasn't deemed to be attractive enough, and I know that attractive women are often thought to be hired because of their looks, and not because of their professional qualifications. You see it all of the time on this board for example.

 

[joelbc1]

I believe in my heart of hearts that women ought to be able to show themselves as spineless, weak and politically driven as males. Unless they get on the stage and "show their stuff" how can we enjoy the show? Kim Reynolds is just the tip of this political gender hack iceberg. Let'em run!

 

[pezhawk]

I remember you used to work at KGAN/KFXA back in the Bit Ten Fan Forums days. I'm glad to hear you say that about Tiffany. KGAN used to be the news station I watched at 6 and ten back in the Dave Shea days. I moved away from it after Sinclair took it over and I had to listen to Mark Hyman every night. I always wondered whether Maggie Jensen was pushed out in favor of Tiffany because Maggie wasn't deemed to be attractive enough, and I know that attractive women are often thought to be hired because of their looks, and not because of their professional qualifications. You see it all of the time on this board for example.

Dave Shea helped my Grandpa paint his garage for one of those 'Hello Iowa' spots, I grew up watching 2 as well. Tiffany came a good decade after Maggie Jensen, if she was pushed out, it would of been for Amy Johnson back when they were still WMT.

Sinclair is what it is, station took a bad wrap thinking they were all right-wing after Sinclair purchased them, but it was unfair as the local newsroom did a good job, but also had to begrudgedly toe the corprorate line with crap like 'The Point'.

 

[MitchLL]

Speaking of TV personalities... can someone talk Liz Mathis into running for US Senator or CD-1 if Finkenauer decides not to run? At age 63... LM might not want the grief.

 

[cigaretteman]

Dave Shea helped my Grandpa paint his garage for one of those 'Hello Iowa' spots, I grew up watching 2 as well. Tiffany came a good decade after Maggie Jensen, if she was pushed out, it would of been for Amy Johnson back when they were still WMT.

Sinclair is what it is, station took a bad wrap thinking they were all right-wing after Sinclair purchased them, but it was unfair as the local newsroom did a good job, but also had to begrudgedly toe the corprorate line with crap like 'The Point'.

'Thanks ez. I apprciate your reply! And I was probably mistaken about how the transition to Tiffany went downl