Anesa Kajtazovic

	Anesa Kajtazovic
	Iowa House of Representatives District 61
	Incumbent
	In office
	January 10, 2011-Present
	Term ends
	January 11, 2015
Years in position	2
Party	Democratic
	Compensation
Base salary	$25,000/year
Per diem	$135/day
	Elections and appointments
Last election	November 6, 2012
First elected	November 2, 2010
Next election	November 4, 2014
Term limits	N/A
	Education
Bachelor's	University of Northern Iowa, 2007
	Personal
Place of birth	Western Bosnia
Profession	Mortgage Analyst, GMAC Mortgage
Websites
	Office website
	Personal website

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Anesa Kajtazovic is a Democratic member of the Iowa House of Representatives, representing District 61 since 2013. She previously represented District 21 from 2011 to 2013.

At 23, Anesa was among the youngest contenders in the 2010 election. Because of her win, Anesa broke the record, currently held by Elesha Gayman, for the youngest woman elected to Iowa's legislature.

Background

Kajtazovic announced her candidacy on March 19, 2010, discussing her decision to enter the race in part:

"I have spoken with so many of my neighbors, friends and family who have all expressed to me that we need to look forward and move ahead towards being a model state in areas of * Education, our economy & jobs. And in order to move forward, we need leadership in Des Moines that reflects where we're trying to move as a district and state. I believe that I can be that effective leader."^[1]

In the primary she challenged Kerry Burt, who has won the seat in 2008 in close race. Before that, Iowa's 21st had log been held by Democrat Don Shoultz. In 2006, a local TV anchor, Tami Wiencek, a Republican, won the seat. Wiencek's victory was one of the few GOP pick-ups in 2006, but it was short lived.

The seat went blue again in 2008, though Burt required substantial help to win and had a difficult 2009. Following a DUI arrest, leaked footage showed Burt trying to bargain his way out of the charges with the arresting officer. Investigation into his wherabouts before he was pulled over eventually disclosed that he was a pharmaceutical industry reception he had failed to disclose, vioalting state law.^[2] When Kajtazovic entered the race, Burt was already struggling and Kajtazovic's campaign announcement made oblique reference to his plight:

"We have some serious issues facing our state and we need effective leadership in Des Moines to ensure that the people of the 21st house district have their voices heard. I believe that I can provide that effective leadership."

In early April, facing two charges on tampering with documents in an audit at Malcolm Price Laboratory School in Cedar Falls, Kerry Burt withdrew from the race. The charges related to allegations that several parents has used false addresses to avoid paying higher tuition.^[3] By the time Burt left the race, it was too late to remove his name from the ballot. However, it did make it more likely the Dems will retain the seat.^[4] After his exit from the field, Kajtzovic spent the rest of the primary season working to make sure voters were aware that Burt was out of the race and that she was on the ballot as a Democratic hopeful.

Her campaign manager, Brandon Jass, said, "We really wanted to make sure everyone is aware that Kerry isn't in the race, and that Anesa is."^[5]

The Waterloo area of Iowa has a large community of Bosnian expatriates and Miss Kajtazovic's choice of blue and gold for her campaign signs is a nod to her home country's flag.

Biography

Since fleeing Bosnia in 1997 with her parents, Hazim and Hadzira, and her sister, Miss Kajtazovic has called Waterloo, Iowa home. Shortly before her 18th birthday in 2004, she became a naturalized citizen and cast her ballot soon after. While studying at UNI, she began volunteering on Democratic campaigns in Iowa, beginning with Bob Kressig's campaign for the state House.^[6]

She has also been a past beauty queen in the Waterloo regional and Iowa State Fairs.^[7]^[8]

After completing her undergraduate studies in three years, she joined GMAC as a mortgage analyst. She is also part of the Waterloo Community Development Board.

Education

University of Northern Iowa, '07, BA in Business Administration and Public Administration

Waterloo West High School, '04

Positions on issues

Key issues

Kajtazovic's key positions revolve around bolstering education and the economy in Iowa and around issues important to working class families and Iowans working in manual labor.

Employment

"I have quite a few family members when they first came here, there were so many more job opportunities, and now it seems there are less and less," she said. "I have quite a few that are unemployed. My dad's work hours have been cut drastically, so it's all around us."^[9]

Gay marriage

"I am not in favor of writing discrimination into Iowa's Constitution. Like many Iowans, I have friends and family on both sides of this issue, but the voters in my district need to know my focus is on creating good jobs, good schools and safe communities for all Iowa families."^[10]

Committee assignments

2013-2014

At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Kajtazovic served on the following committees:

Iowa Committee Assignments, 2012
• Appropriations
• Commerce
• State Government
• Veterans Affairs

2011-2012

In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Kajtazovic served on the following committees:

Iowa Committee Assignments, 2011
• Commerce
• Local Government
• State Government
• Ways and Means

Elections

2012

See also: Iowa House of Representatives elections, 2012

Kajtazovic ran in the 2012 election for Iowa House of Representatives District 60. Kajtazovic ran unopposed in the Democratic primary on June 5, 2012 and defeated Lyn Tackett (R) in the general election on November 6, 2012.^[11]^[12]

Iowa House of Representatives, District 61, General Election, 2012
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Anesa Kajtazovic Incumbent	70.3%	9,602
	Republican	Lyn Tackett	29.7%	4,063
Total Votes				13,665

2010

See also: Iowa House of Representatives elections, 2010

Kajitazovic won election to the Iowa House of Representatives, defeating John Rooff (R) in the November 2 general election.^[13]

In the June 8th primary election, Kajitazovic defeated Democratic incumbent Kerry Burt by a margin of 654 to 61. Burt was no longer actively campaigning.

Iowa House of Representatives, District 21 General Election (2010)
Candidates		Votes
Anesa Kajtazovic (D)		5,539
John Rooff (R)		3,875

Campaign donors

2012

Campaign donor information is not yet available for this year.

2010

In 2010, Kajtazovic raised $78,479 in contributions. ^[14]

Her four largest contributors were:

Donor	Amount
Iowa House Truman Fund	$32,250
AFSCME Iowa Council 61	$7,750
Food & Commercial Workers District 431	$4,000
Food & Commercial Workers	$3,000

Candidate contact information

Campaign HQ: 1225 E. RIDGEWAY AVENUE, WATERLOO, IA 50702

Phone: 319-504-2733

E-mail: ANESA.IOWAHOUSE@GMAIL.COM

Campaign Manager: Brandon Jass

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