Politics & Government

'I Need More Time to Explore': Possible Congressional Candidate Explains Resignation From Prominent Board

Swati Dandekar is leaving the Iowa Utilities Board to spend more time exploring a run for Congress.

A Marion Democrat who resigned from a prominent post to the Iowa Utilities Board, said she is not yet ready to announce a congressional run, but the move was to give her more time to explore that option.

"I needed more time to explore," Swati Dandekar told Patch. "That is why I gave my letter of resignation."

Dandekar, who was a state representative and later a state senator before resigning to take the utility board post, formed an exploratory committee in May for the congressional seat being vacated by Bruce Braley.  

Dandekar submitted her utility board resignation, which is effective on July 22, on Monday. She was appointed in September 2011 by Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad, a Republican. 

Dandekar said she needs to meet more people both in person and by phone, and needs time to do so. She is not allowed to pursue her political career while on the clock performing a state job, so all of her exploratory efforts are after 5 p.m. every day, she said. 

"I am in Des Moines and need to meet more people," Dandekar said. "This is a good way for me - calling people and talking to people - but I needed more time doing that. I am very good and strict, not taking calls during work time."

Democrats frowned when Dandekar resigned her senate seat for Branstad's post because it jeopardized Democratic control of the Senate. When asked if the rift will be a problem as she considers a congressional run, Dandekar said she made a "large donation" of $85,000 to the Senate Democrats campaign fund, which helped the campaign of her eventual successor, former TV anchorwoman Liz Mathis. 

Dandekar said she is looking to the future,and is getting regular requests for her to run. 

"I think they know that I am hard working and what is right for District 1 and what is right for Iowa," she said. "This election is about the future."

While Dandekar said she will make a decision about whether to run "sometime this summer," she is not shying away from what she can offer on a national platform. 

"I had a great opportunity," Dandekar said of her time on the utilities board. "I think it has been good for me. I learned a lot, and it gave me an idea of what can be done at the national level for us - to be good in the energy sector and telecom sector ... It has widened my knowledge." 


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