CHARLES CITY – Charles City lawyer and Democratic state legislator Todd Prichard officially announced today that he is running for governor after weeks of exploring the venture.
Prichard, 43, won his third term to the Iowa Legislature in 2016, and has offered up “free” community college education as one of his campaign platforms, calling his idea “a bold, progressive plan”.
Prichard represents House District 52 in the Iowa Legislature, which includes the counties of Chickasaw, Floyd and Cerro Gordo. Prichard is currently serving his third term in the Iowa House. He serves on the Agriculture, Judiciary, State Government, Veterans Affairs, and Ways and Means committees. He also served on the Telecommunication Company Property Tax Review Interim Study Committee.
In announcing his candidacy to replace out-going Governor Terry Branstad and soon-to-be-Governor Kim Reynolds, Prichard outlined his past and the future he sees for Iowans:
Our state has begun to look more and more like a battleground, just like states across the nation. Our governor and lieutenant governor, Republican legislators, and powerful interests have advanced radical legislation that attacks workers, teachers, schools, women, students, and the sick, while ignoring the real needs of everyday Iowans.
I worry about the path we’re on, and about what it will mean for my neighbors who’ve been left behind.
Yet, I still believe in Iowa. I believe in Iowans and I believe our state needs a governor who will fight for every single Iowan.
Growing up in Davenport’s West End, my parents were carpet cleaners. And during the summers and after school, I pitched in, holding hoses for the machines or changing out the water buckets for the machines.
We were a proud family, yet paying the mortgage was always a struggle for my parents and my clothes were hand-me-downs from cousins in Sioux City.
But when times were really tough, we knew we could rely on our neighbors — people with sunburned faces and rough hands that matched our own — and they relied on us.
Like many others, I learned what it means to be an Iowan from my parents and my neighbors. They taught me the value of a dollar, about the dignity in a day’s work, about the importance of studying hard and keeping your word, and about what it means to see the world as something bigger than yourself.
I learned that what made Iowa special was our people. And I learned that the reason we had access to opportunity was that we created it — not just for ourselves, but for each other.
But today, for too many Iowans, opportunity is becoming harder to come by, and Iowa values have been betrayed. Our governor promised jobs for our small towns, but delivered tax giveaways to out-of-state companies in our largest cities. Our legislators promised better schools for our kids, but delivered attacks on their teachers and withheld funding.
Our seniors, our families, our neighbors, and our next generation all deserve better. If our governor and lieutenant governor won’t fight for every Iowan, I will — and I hope you’ll join me.
Let me know if you’re ready to stand with me and ensure that Iowa finally has a governor who will fight for every Iowan.
If we join together, then we will not only win this election — we’ll make Iowa a place where you can once again raise a family with big dreams and real hope in making them come true.
According to his campaign website, Representative Todd Prichard was born in Davenport, Iowa to Phil and Delaine Prichard. The Prichards were small business owners who operated a carpet cleaning business.
After graduating from Davenport public schools, Todd attended the University of Iowa. In addition to studying political science and history, Todd enlisted in the Army Reserve and participated in the Army ROTC program to help pay for college and fulfill a desire to serve his country.
After graduating as the Distinguished Military graduate, Todd commissioned into the Regular Army as an Infantry Lieutenant. After officer training, Todd deployed with the First Cavalry Division as a rifle platoon leader to Kuwait as part of Operation Desert Spring.
After returning to Iowa, Todd joined the 1/133 Infantry Battalion of the Iowa Army National Guard in Dubuque and started law school at the University of Iowa. Todd met and married Ann Stecher, a teacher in Van Meter. Todd was once again called to deploy with his National Guard unit to Egypt for six months as part of an international peacekeeping force.
After his deployment, Todd returned home and graduated from law school. After graduation, Todd and Ann moved to Charles City, where he started working as an attorney. A year later, Todd deployed again with the 1/133 Infantry Battalion to Iraq, serving as the Company Commander.
Todd returned to Charles City to rejoin his family and resume his legal work. Two years later, he opened his own general practice law firm. He also served as the Assistant Floyd County Attorney, where he prosecuted drug and violent crime, including domestic abuse cases. Todd continues to serve in the Army Reserve at Fort Des Moines, Iowa, and now serves as a Lieutenant Colonel in charge of distribution management for the 103rd Sustainment Command.
In 2013, Todd ran for special election and won his first term in the Iowa House of Representatives. While in the legislature, Todd has reached across the aisle to address important issues like human trafficking, water quality, veteran’s affairs, rural development and job training. While in the legislature, Todd has been recognized as Legislator of the Year by the Iowa Sheriff’s Association and the Iowa League of Cities.
Locally, Todd has volunteered his time to a variety of causes including job training, flood protection, and providing school supplies to area children. He has assisted wounded warriors and local veterans and served on the board of the Charles City YMCA and the Learning Center of Charles City. He remains active today, including his work with “Be The Bridge” that seeks to improve race relations in Floyd County.
Todd and Ann live in Charles City with their three children, Kate, Emma and Owen. Ann works as the Talented and Gifted teacher at Charles City schools. The family attends St. John Lutheran Church in Charles City.
