Overview
Paul Danny Pate Jr. (born May 1, 1958) is an American businessman and politician serving as the 32nd and current Secretary of State of Iowa since 2015, previously holding the office from 1995 to 1999. Pate is the Past President of the National Association of Secretaries of State. A member of the Republican Party, he also served in the Iowa Senate from 1989 to 1995 and as Mayor of Cedar Rapids from 2002 to 2006. He was an unsuccessful candidate for his party's nomination for Governor of Iowa in 1998.
Early and personal life
Pate was born in 1958 to parents Paul Sr. and Velma Pate. He received an Associate of Arts degree from Kirkwood Community College. He married his wife Jane in 1978. They have three children, Jennifer, Amber and Paul III, and five grandchildren.
Business career
Pate, a third-generation builder, is the president and owner of Pate Asphalt. He was also previously the president of Premier Group Corporation, and the president of Pavco Paving Company. Pate was a member of U.S. Small Business Administration District Advisory Board from 1987 to 1989. He previously served as executive director for the Youth Entrepreneurship Program of East Central Iowa. He has been recognized as Iowa Young Entrepreneur of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration, with a Blue Chip Award by the United States Chamber of Commerce, and an Outstanding Community Leader by The Des Moines Register.
Political career
From Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).