Democrat Meyer seeks Latham seat

Mitchell County nonprofit founder to run for Congress

By BILL SHEA, Messenger staff writer
A man with years of experience in the health and human services fields will announce today that he’s seeking the Democratic nomination for Congress in the district that includes Fort Dodge.

Kurt Meyer, of rural Mitchell County, is to launch his candidacy at an event in Mason City.

‘‘The common goal shared by those in community service and those in public office is to create a better world for future generations,’’ Meyer said in a written statement. ‘‘That’s why I’m running for Congress.’’

He will face William J. Meyers, of Humboldt, for the Democratic nod in the Fourth Congressional District. U.S. Rep. Tom Latham, R-Ames, is the incumbent there. He has filed the paperwork necessary to seek re-election, but hasn’t made any formal announcements.

The Fourth Congressional District includes Webster County and all of its surrounding counties. It extends north to the Iowa-Minnesota border, east to the Mississippi River and south to Madison and Warren counties. Calhoun, Pocahontas, Palo Alto and Emmet counties are the western edge of the district.

Meyer worked for the campaigns of former U.S. Rep. Mike Blouin and former U.S. Sen. John Culver. He has not held public office before.

He grew up on a farm in Mitchell County. He graduated from St. Ansgar High School and earned a bachelor’s degree in history and political science from Luther College in Decorah.

From 1981 to 1988, he lived in Philadelphia, Penn., where he was a consultant to health care organizations and an administrator at the Wistar Institute, a biomedical research group.

After returning to the Midwest, he established the Meyer Heykes Nonprofit Partnership. The firm helped non-profit organizations with planning, community relations and fundraising.

After 16 years, the company was merged into Kairos and Associates in St. Paul, Minn. In the last 20 years, he’s worked with colleges, hospitals, nursing homes, human service agencies, libraries and churches.

Meyer was a founder of Advocates for a Cleaner Environment, a nonprofit group. He is now the group’s president.

He and his wife, Paula, have three children.



Contact Bill Shea at (515) 573-2141 or bshea@messengernews.net