Lisa Lima is an organizer, activist, and advocate who chairs the Pottawattamie County Democrats.
In 2019, Iowa was buzzing with presidential hopefuls. Campaigns filled community centers, volunteers hustled to make their voices heard, and voters were at the heart of it all. I was one of those volunteers, working with the ACLU of Iowa to protect civil rights and gather petition signatures. It was exhilarating, but also overwhelming.
That’s when I first met Jill Shudak. I was struggling to collect enough signatures. Jill noticed, stepped in, and without hesitation made sure I had the support I needed. That simple act gave me more than signatures; it gave me the confidence to raise my question, ensure it was answered, and even get it on camera. In that small but powerful way, Jill did what she has always done: she lifted up someone who needed it.
Jill’s instinct to fight for others has defined her path in public service. After completing the Emerge Iowa program, she ran for the Council Bluffs Community School Board. Her campaign was rooted in listening and connecting; she and her team knocked on thousands of doors. Voters responded, and Jill became the leading vote-getter.
Her resilience goes deeper than politics. Born with severe double clubbed feet, Jill endured years of surgeries and limited mobility. She couldn’t play sports, but she still found ways to be part of a team—as an assistant, as a volunteer, as someone who showed up. Rather than letting challenges define her, Jill turned them into fuel for a life of service and strength.
Professionally, she has built a career managing multimillion-dollar portfolios, bringing sharp financial expertise to her work. She served six years on the Council Bluffs Schools Policy Review Committee and contributed her leadership to the New Visions Christmas Planning Board. Her focus has been clear in every role: collaboration, listening, and lifting others up.
On the school board, Jill built a reputation for preparation, fairness, and courage. She stood with teachers, made informed decisions, and kept her eye on what mattered most: the students and families of Council Bluffs. Today, as the only woman on the City Council, she continues to stand her ground, lead with transparency, and prove that principled leadership makes a difference.
Now, Jill Shudak is running for mayor. She would be the first woman elected to that office in Council Bluffs’ 173-year history. (A woman briefly served as mayor in 1974, when city council members rotated into the position.)
But Jill’s candidacy isn’t about breaking barriers for their own sake—it’s about opening doors for others. With her financial knowledge, her record of service, and her unshakable commitment to the underdog, Jill is the kind of leader who can guide our city into a new chapter of growth and renewal.
Council Bluffs deserves a mayor who sees people, who hears them, and who fights for them. Jill Shudak has always been that person, and she is that person.
Editor’s note: Bleeding Heartland welcomes guest posts by Democratic or progressive candidates for city offices or school board, or by their supporters. Please reach out to Laura Belin if you are interested in writing.