JOCHUM, Pam

Pam Jochum

JOCHUM, Pam. (Dubuque, IA, Sept. 26, 1954-- ). Employed at LORAS COLLEGE beginning in 1985, Jochum worked as an executive secretary, residence hall director, special projects coordinator in the alumni office, and director of public information and marketing. She also found time to volunteer for the Association for Retarded Citizens of Dubuque County, National Catholic Basketball Tournament, Advisory Committee for Legislative Women's Network of the National Conference for State Legislators, and the Coordinating Council to Stop Family Violence.

Before running for political office, Jochum worked with her late ex-husband Thomas J. JOCHUM who represented a family which had someone on the Dubuque ballot since 1974. (1) She served as chair of the Dubuque County Democratic Central Committee in 1982 and floor whip at the Democratic National Convention in 1984. In 1992 she became the first woman elected to the Iowa Legislature from Dubuque County. She ran on a platform of making state government more responsive to its citizens; campaign finance reform; strong support for education and affordable health care; and job creation. In 2008 Jochum served on the Environmental Protection committee, Labor committee, Ways and Means committee and the State Government Committee where she was chair. She also served on the Justice System Appropriations Subcommittee.

Jochum was named the Legislator of the Year from the Mental Health Association in 1994. In 1995, she received the Jamie Barwick Award for Excellence for outstanding contributions to the lives of children with disabilities. Jochum received the 1996 Leadership Award from the Public Policy Institute for outstanding efforts as chairwoman of the Dubuque County Democratic Party.

In 2008 Jochum was elected to the Iowa Senate. In 2012, less than two weeks after winning a second term in the Iowa Senate, Jochum was elected to the Senate presidency. Another Dubuquer who served as Iowa Senate president was Joseph J. WELSH in the early 1990s. Jochum told the Telegraph Herald that she decided to seek the presidency after receiving encouragement from several colleagues. She started asking senators for their support Nov. 7, the day after Democrats retained majority control in the Senate, 26-23. (2)

Among her many duties will be to preside over the chamber's proceedings -- a controversial responsibility on occasion -- and to make committee assignments. In the unusual event that neither the governor nor lieutenant governor could serve as the state's chief executive, Jochum, as Senate president, would serve as governor on an interim basis. (3)

In 2018 Jochum received the "Uncommon Public Service Award" from the Hoover Presidential Foundation. The award is presented annually to one member of the Iowa House and one from the Iowa Senate. Recipients are chosen on how well they exemplified Iowa native Herbert Hoover's humanitarian efforts and commitment in uncommon service to the people of Iowa. Jochum was cited for her commitment to expanding affordable health insurance, service to citizens with disabilities, support for and commitment to expand early childhood education, and support for affordable higher education.

She announced on January 12, 2024 that she would not run for reelection. This marked the last of 30 years she has worked in the Iowa Legislature. Among the major Dubuque projects for which she worked to major state aid were the PORT OF DUBUQUE, CRESCENT COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER, and the work on the BEE BRANCH. She also helped creating such statewide programs as the Iowa Health and Wellness Plan and the Iowa Public Information Board. (5)

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Source:

1. Fisher, Benjamin.. "Longtime Senator Jochum Plans to Retire," Telegraph Herald, January 12, 2024, p. 1

2. Cooper, Brian. "Jocum Ascends to Senate Presidency," Telegraph Herald, May 1, 2016. Online: http://www.thonline.com/mobile_new/news/article_40b0a54c-4e1d-5be0-a31a-d471d36b1a97.html?sp-tk=425A37E6FBC5A8705A9625E2DEEC7FCAF6A279F92FBB8C8B27C86904167E112F11538570AB68CE6B238F43DBAD3383134F522485DB933A946F1CDACD7C2DBF71DC428D1D9C86A268B7163D3A1D6462D0404ABA50E173551897915469623F198A78914D159C40D5896C1702FFA0832D5CF08B5EF7FB542208834DFDC014393B322D05C8763D07C5FE4CD26999D2A23DF0918447E0

3. Ibid.

4. Barton, Thomas A. "Awards and Recognition," Telegraph Herald, March 25, 2018, p. 22A