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About Ryan.
"I want to return the government to regular citizens, no more lobbyists and career politicians making decisions only to enrich themselves and their donors. The governor and legislature have made decisions against the will of Iowans, banning books, restricting women’s healthcare, enacting school vouchers against the voters will, and taking away local control from our communities. We have to do better."
-Ryan Condon, Iowa HD 51 Candidate
Ryan and His Family
Ryan has been married to Marilyn Condon for 21 years, and they have four boys. They have lived in Nevada for the last 16 years.
Life Story-A Bit of Background
Family and Military Service
I went to ISU and received my BS in Psychology in 2002. I joined the Army National Guard to help pay my way through college, and attended Basic and Advanced Training at Fort Jackson, SC and was assigned to the JAG Corp in Boone when my training was completed. I was ordered to deploy to the Sinai Peninsula in 2003 as part of Operation Enduring Freedom with the 133rd Infantry Brigade. While serving, I received the Army Achievement Medal, Meritus Service Medal, and Faithful Service Medal-which is one of the highest honors that can bestowed upon an Army National Guard soldier. I left the service as a Sergeant to start my family in Iowa.
I am married to Marilyn Condon and we have been married for 21 years. We've made our home in Nevada for the last 16 years, and have four boys. I have been active in the Volunteer community, including being a Cub Scout Leader for Pack 128 of Nevada for the last 14 years, as well as a member of the American Legion and taking part in the Food at First Program in Nevada, which provides meals to the surrounding area's families and individuals in need.
A Bit of Family History
I was born in Boone Iowa to Spike and Lori Condon. My grandfather is Vernon Condon of Condon’s Service of Boone which has been in operation in Boone since 1964. My family has a long history of military service. My great grandfather was Ernest E. Condon who served in the Iowa National Guard and fought in the Spanish American War, and later in World War I in France. My great uncle Bud Condon flew in World War 2 as a bombardier and flight engineer on B26 Bomber in the European Theatre. My father Spike, retired from the Army as a highly decorated Black Hawk Instructor Pilot after 31 years during which he was deployed across the globe, concluding with his final tour in Iraq as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. My brother, Andrew Condon, continued the tradition of active duty service and currently serves our nation in the Army as a Chief Warrant Officer 4. He began his career being deployed to Iraq, and was deployed consistently to Iraq and Afghanistan until those wars were ended.
My father was one of the earliest in the US Army to achieve the prestigious rank of Chief Warrant Officer 5. It was through my father's career protecting our nation that my brother, sister and I first learned what Patriotism and Service mean. It means sacrifice and dedication, service to something greater than one's self interest, one's family, one's life. His service and example has influenced how I view the world and what it means to serve the people.
Service to the People of Iowa
After graduating from ISU, I began my career working for Youth & Shelter Services of Ames, IA. I was hired as an Addictions Counselor and worked at Rosedale Emergency Shelter, Youth Recovery House, and the 712 House. I found that I enjoyed helping regular Iowans and that was the start of my career in service to the people of Iowa, much like the other members of my family, my life has been on of service to the people.
I obtained employment with the State of Iowa as a Child Support Recovery Officer in 2007, and eventually moved on to be an Investigator for the Public Defenders Office in Nevada, and then as an Income Maintenance Worker 2 for the Department of Health and Human Services, where I help people obtain food assistance, cash assistance, and Medicaid.
Ernest E. Condon
Bud Condon
CW5 Spike Condon and CW4 Andrew Condon
Path to my decision to run
I am not the sort of person who sought public office. The thought to do this never crossed my mind at all. However, during the last legislative session and this legislative session I feel compelled to run. Quite simply, the "middle" is missing from our state. The middle class has been left behind by career politicians looking out for only themselves, their friends, and their donors; the continually ignore constituents voices in favor of their own self interests. Bipartisinship is mostly a relic of the past, and the majority of Iowans-the middle-have been ignored in favor of extremists. Government simply is not working for the people any longer, and that needs to change. No longer do our representatives try to make a better Iowa, just a richer yield to themselves and their interests. Meanwhile regular Iowans struggle everyday with childcare costs, healthcare costs, school costs, food costs, housing costs, the list goes on and on-and our state government has done nothing to improve this situation, choosing instead to pursue a path of enriching themselves and those that can give them the most money to finance their next election.
I'm not exceptional. I'm just a regular guy who wants to bring the government back to regular everyday Iowans and break this cycle of lobbyists and special interests buying our government. They call it speech, I call it corruption.
I ask that you support me in my effort to take back our government and deny those that would have this disgrace to continue, to reach for a better future for Iowa, to restore the promise of Iowa to our children.