Swati Dandekar, 2731 28th Ave., Marion, was reelected as the State Representative from Iowa House District 36 in November 2004. Ms. Dandekar, 53, is a 31-year resident of Marion and a long-time community volunteer.

Representative Swati Dandekar is the first Indian born American citizen to win a state legislature seat in the United States. She represents the Iowa House District 36, which encompasses the city of Marion, Linn-Mar Precincts, Maine Township and a small portion of Cedar Rapids. Ms. Dandekar, a democrat, has been a community volunteer for a long time, and because of her contributions to the area as a community volunteer for many years, her candidacy has been endorsed by many community organizations in Iowa.

Representative Dandekar is a strong advocate of improving educational opportunities in Iowa and believes that public education spending is an essential investment in the state’s future. She believes the state should take an active role in stimulating the local economy and creating quality jobs. She also believes in providing property tax relief in order to encourage new businesses to the local area.

Representative Swat Dandekar and her husband, Arvind, migrated to the United States in 1973. Mr.. Arvind Dandekar is the CEO/President of Fastek International, located in Hiawatha, Iowa. Their elder son, Ajai, is a medical student in the MD, Ph.D. program at the University of Iowa, and their younger son, Govind, is a strategic planning analyst for the Walt Disney Company.

To learn more about Swati Dandekar, visit her website:
www.swatidandekar.com/