About Senator Bolkcom

State Senator Joe Bolkcom is currently serving his fourth term in the Iowa Senate. He represents Senate District 39, which includes Iowa City and University Heights. He previously served for six years on the Johnson County Board of Supervisors.

Senator Bolkcom is an Assistant Senate Majority Leader and chair of the Ways & Means Committee. He also serves on the Appropriations, Commerce, Natural Resource & Environment, and Human Resources committees, as well as the Health & Human Services Budget Subcommittee.

Before becoming a county supervisor, he worked for three years at the Johnson County Public Health Department addressing the county’s leading heath issues, including youth access to tobacco products and environmental health concerns.

Bolkcom helped found and direct two senior citizen advocacy organizations fighting for lower health care cost for seniors in Iowa and Illinois. He has also been active in state and local environmental protection efforts.

Senator Bolkcom lives in Iowa City.  His hobbies include running, hiking, cooking, gardening, and bicycling. Senator Bolkcom graduated from Saint Ambrose University and earned a masters degree in Public Affairs from University of Iowa.