Michael L. Fitzgerald (born November 29, 1951) is an American businessman and politician who served as the 25th
Treasurer of Iowa from 1983 to 2023. A member of the
Democratic Party, he was the longest-serving
state treasurer
In the state and territorial governments of the United States, 54 of the 56 states and territories have the executive position of treasurer. New York abolished the office of New York State Treasurer in 1926, in which the duties were transfer ...
in the
United States
The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...
.
Early life and early career
Fitzgerald was born in
Marshalltown, Iowa
Marshalltown is a city in Marshall County, Iowa, and is the county seat of the county. With a population of 27,591 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the 16th largest city in the state. Marshalltown is home to the Iowa Vetera ...
, in 1951. He graduated from
Colo Community High School in 1970 and received his bachelor's degree in business administration from the
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa (U of I, UIowa, or Iowa) is a public university, public research university in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. Founded in 1847, it is the oldest and largest university in the state. The University of Iowa is organized int ...
in 1974. Fitzgerald worked as a marketing analyst for
Massey Ferguson
Massey Ferguson is an agricultural machinery manufacturer, established in 1953 through the merger of farm equipment makers Massey-Harris of Canada and the Ferguson Company of Ireland. It was based in Coventry then moved to Beauvais in 2003 when ...
in
Des Moines
Des Moines is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of cities in Iowa, most populous city in the U.S. state of Iowa. It is the county seat of Polk County, Iowa, Polk County with parts extending into Warren County, Iowa, Wa ...
for eight years before being elected State Treasurer of Iowa in 1982.
State Treasurer (1983–2023)
As
State Treasurer
In the state and territorial governments of the United States, 54 of the 56 states and territories have the executive position of treasurer. New York abolished the office of New York State Treasurer in 1926, in which the duties were transfer ...
, Fitzgerald acted as Iowa's banker and chief financial officer.
He served as the administrator of Iowa's 529 plan, formerly College Savings Iowa, which is a college savings advisory service.
Fitzgerald administered the Invest in Iowa program, a series of auctions started in 1983 to invest state funds in Iowa financial institutions.
The Linked Investments for Tomorrow (LIFT) program, introduced in 1986, also provided capital to Iowa entrepreneurs to create or expand their businesses.
Fitzgerald lost reelection in 2022 to
Republican candidate
Roby Smith. He held office for 40 years, making him the longest-serving
state treasurer
In the state and territorial governments of the United States, 54 of the 56 states and territories have the executive position of treasurer. New York abolished the office of New York State Treasurer in 1926, in which the duties were transfer ...
in the
United States
The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...
.
Electoral history
, + State Treasurer of Iowa, 2010
! Party !! Candidate !! Vote percentage
, -
,
Democratic , , Michael L. Fitzgerald , , 53%
, -
,
Republican , , David D. Jamison , , 47%
, -
, + State Treasurer of Iowa, 2006
[
! Party !! Candidate !! Vote percentage
, -
, Democratic , , Michael L. Fitzgerald , , 99%
, -
, , , ]Write-in
A write-in candidate is a candidate whose name does not appear on the ballot but seeks election by asking voters to cast a vote for the candidate by physically writing in the person's name on the ballot. Depending on electoral law it may be poss ...
, , 1%
, -
, + State Treasurer of Iowa, 2002[
! Party !! Candidate !! Vote percentage
, -
, Democratic , , Michael L. Fitzgerald , , 55%
, -
, Republican , , ]Matthew Whitaker
Matthew George Whitaker (born October 29, 1969) is an American lawyer, politician, and diplomat serving as the 26th List of United States permanent representatives to NATO, United States permanent representative to NATO since 2025 in the Second ...
, , 43%
, -
, Libertarian , , Tim Hird , , 2%
, -
, + State Treasurer of Iowa, 1998[
! Party !! Candidate !! Vote percentage
, -
, Democratic , , Michael L. Fitzgerald , , 55%
, -
, Republican , , Joan Fitzpatrick Bolin , , 43%
, -
, + State Treasurer of Iowa, 1994][
! Party !! Candidate !! Vote percentage
, -
, Democratic , , Michael L. Fitzgerald , , 54%
, -
, Republican , , Jay Irwin , , 44%
, -
, Natural Law Party , , Elizabeth Koehler , , 2%
, -
, + State Treasurer of Iowa, 1990][
! Party !! Candidate !! Vote percentage
, -
, Democratic , , Michael L. Fitzgerald , , 59%
, -
, Republican , , Burtwin L. Day , , 39%
, -
, Grassroots Party , , Derrick P. Grimmer , , 2%
, -
, + State Treasurer of Iowa, 1986][
! Party !! Candidate !! Vote percentage
, -
, Democratic , , Michael L. Fitzgerald , , 58%
, -
, Republican , , John Nystrom , , 42%
, -
, + State Treasurer of Iowa, 1982][
! Party !! Candidate !! Vote percentage
, -
, Democratic , , Michael L. Fitzgerald , , 51%
, -
, Republican , , Maurice E. Baringer , , 48%
, -
Fitzgerald once considered running for ]Governor of Iowa
A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of a state's official representative. Depending on the type of political region or polity, a ''governor'' ma ...
against Republican incumbent Terry Branstad
Terry Edward Branstad (born November 17, 1946) is a retired American politician who served as the 39th and 42nd governor of Iowa (1983–1999; 2011–2017) and the United States ambassador to China (2017–2020). A member of the Repu ...
in 2014.
References
External links
*
, -
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fitzgerald, Michael
1951 births
21st-century Iowa politicians
Iowa Democrats
Living people
Politicians from Marshalltown, Iowa
State treasurers of Iowa
University of Iowa alumni