What is "The Commission"?

The Iowa Civil Rights Commission is a state administrative agency responsible for enforcing the Iowa Civil Rights Act of 1965, as amended, the state's anti-discrimination law. The seven-member commission is responsible for key policy-making and final contested case decision-making. The commissioners are appointed by the governor subject to confirmation by the Senate. The commissioners who served during FY 89 are listed on page 5.

Management of the agency was carried out by Executive Director Inga Bumbary-Langston, who has served in that position since 1986. During FY 89 two key management positions were filled when Ione Shadduck became director of compliance and Ron Pothast became director of administration. This new management team was responsible for many changes that took place throughout the year to improve the efficiency of the agency operations.

Before the end of the fiscal year, the commission was able to increase the investigative staff by the addition of two permanent, three project (18-month), and one emergency positions. This brought agency staff to 35, plus two assistant attorneys general assigned to the agency by the Department of Justice, and two volunteers.

A table of organization listing all the Commission's positions and lines of authority is shown on page 22.