Bettendorf, Iowa — A Bettendorf native who’s a Navy veteran is campaigning to be Iowa’s top election official. Democrat Ryan Peterman is a graduate of the US Naval Academy who served 10 years as a helicopter pilot. He returned to Iowa last year to help care for his father, who is also a veteran.
Republican Paul Pate, Iowa’s current secretary of state, has not announced whether he intends to seek a fifth term. Peterman, who is 34, is making his first run for public office. Peterman says his Navy experience has taught him how to lead under pressure.
Peterman says he’s troubled by Republican efforts that have shortened Iowa’s early voting period to 20 days.
As a Naval Aviator, Peterman deployed to the Middle East and Asia as a helicopter pilot on an aircraft carrier.
After that experience, Peterman returned to the US Naval Academy in Maryland, where he was an honor education officer teaching midshipmen and a speechwriter for the academy’s superintendent.
