Mariannette Miller-Meeks

When political newcomer Dr. Mariannette Miller-Meeks squeaked out a victory in Iowa’s 2nd District congressional primary, a few Republican eyebrows raised. None of those eyebrows, however, were attached to the people who met the Ottumwa ophthalmologist and learned her story. When considered in context with the rest of her life, the primary was just one more challenge she met with planted feet.

“I really had no desire to be in politics prior to last year,” Miller-Meeks said. “Nine years ago, when I first began visiting Congress with the Academy of Ophthalmology, advocating and addressing health care issues, I had a wonderful rapport and relationship with the honorable [former Congressman] Jim Leach. I thought [Leach] was an ideal representative for our District. He was very thoughtful. He was introspective. He was highly intelligent. He would dissect bills and issues and then give you a response. Now, he may not have always given the response that you wanted, but at least you were assured that there was insight and a true understanding of the difficulties and different sides of an issue. I always felt that he was doing what was best for the District and for the constituents within the boundaries of the Constitution.”

Miller-Meeks went on to explain that when she returned to Washington, D.C. after Leach’s departure, she had a very different experience.

“I didn’t have a sense that there was an understanding for the voters’ problems, or a sense of knowledge of the issues — the thing that I believe makes a good representative and provides thoughtful insight into regulations and laws,” she said.

The decision to run for Congress came, she said, once she realized that her own background and life experiences afforded her a unique understanding on a wide variety of issues.

“One of the very effective things about my candidacy is the fact that I am a small business owner, that I am a woman, that I’m a mother, that I’m a wife of almost 25 years, that I’m a veteran, that I was a nurse, and the fact that I left home at 16 and paid my own way through college. … All of these combination of things are so very different in and of themselves. Yet they make a complete package that is a microcosm of our entire society and our entire District,” she said.

Because Iowa is one of only two states that has not ever elected a woman to Congress, there is always an added pressure of historical context placed on any woman who launches a campaign. Miller-Meeks said, however, that possibly being the first woman elected to Congress doesn’t put added pressure on her campaign, but it does result in her holding herself to a higher level.

“One is always cognizant of the fact of being a role model for those that will hopefully come behind,” she said. “I try to always present myself as I am — to be authentic and sincere. I’m caring, but also intelligent and knowledgable on the issues. Voters want someone who is credible and competent and capable. And then, if you have those additional attributes that women bring to the table, that’s icing on the cake.”

Women, because of their views on life and specific experiences, she said, bring a wealth of knowledge that is well-suited for a civil service career.

“I believe there is a difference between men and woman — although I also realize that there is crossover,” she said. “I think women tend to be more receptive of other viewpoints. Women listen carefully, build consensus and are good at collaborating. They have knack for bringing different groups of people into the fold, so to speak.”

Miller-Meeks, who is an Army veteran and has worn numerous (sometimes multiple) hats throughout her life, said she is not only well-suited but has a proven track record of results when interacting in primarily male-dominated fields.

“I think that having the experience of working around men in a position of authority … and being able to be respectful, dignified and commanding, but doing so in a manner that doesn’t leave anyone feeling inadequate or less significant … is important,” she said. “So, yes, I think that my having been in the military when there were very few women; starting medical school when there were very few women; being the first woman faculty member at the University of Iowa in the Opthalmology Department; and being the first female president of the Iowa Medical Society positions me well to work with different groups of people, to collaborate well and to interact well and make everybody feel that they are a necessary component to the entire puzzle.”

Miller-Meeks and her husband, Curt, have lived in Ottumwa for the past 11 years. She is in private practice there while he is a compliance officer at Ottumwa Regional Health Center. They have two young adult children, Jonathon and Taylor. Miller-Meeks retired from the U.S. Army Reserve in 1998 after more than two decades of service. Her husband retired from the military in 2006. Both held the rank of lieutenant colonel upon retirement.

After defeating two Republicans — Lee Harder and Peter Teahen — on the June primary ballot, she will face incumbent Democratic Congressman Dave Loebsack in November.