My name is Michael Coonrad.

I grew up in Independence as the oldest of five siblings. I went to school here from preschool through high school. I’ve built a lot of important memories here. My teachers here taught me the importance of compromise, listening with intent, and trying things I normally wouldn’t do.

After high school, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to pursue in college. I initially planned to study accounting at Hawkeye Community College, but ended up changing my plans and spending a few years at Hawkeye before transferring to the University of Northern Iowa to study political science and public administration.

Studying at UNI taught me a lot about how government and nonprofit organizations function, but it was getting involved with organizations on campus that gave me an appreciation for why they function the way they do and what they might need.

One thing I learned through my experience in campus organizations is that there are plenty of problems to solve, but not always enough people willing to get to the heart of an issue. When I joined the board of Panther Esports, I noticed a few problems that had been unresolved for a while because nobody had been able to dedicate the time to figuring them out. Within a few weeks, I was able to find solutions to some of the problems, and not long after, other board members began turning to me when they needed help working through conflicts or figuring out rules. I eventually served as president of the board.

It was my experiences growing up and in school that informed my decision to run for office. I believe my community deserves someone who listens to people affected by problems, figures out their root causes, and helps find solutions that make sense. I want the opportunity to give back to the community I grew up in by bringing that approach to the state legislature all year, every year.