State Senator Joe Bolkcom is currently serving his third 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 Majority Leader and chair of the Ways & Means Committee. He also serves on the Appropriations, Commerce, Environment & Energy Independence, Human Resources, and Natural Resources committees.

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.