Iowa Finance Authority director Dave Jamison fired over 'credible' sex harassment charges

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds has terminated Dave Jamison, director of the Iowa Finance Authority, effective immediately, on grounds of sexual harassment, the governor's office said Saturday.

"On Friday evening, the governor’s office was made aware of credible allegations of sexual harassment against Director Jamison," according to a statement issued by Brenna Smith, the Republican governor's press secretary. Upon learning this, Reynolds terminated Jamison’s employment, the statement said.

Jamison, a Republican who is a former Story County treasurer, did not immediately respond Saturday to requests for comment from the Des Moines Register. He was paid a salary of $131,391 in 2017, state records show.

Smith declined to provide more details about the allegations of sexual harassment against Jamison. 

"I'm sorry, but to protect the privacy of IFA’s remaining employees, no further comment will be made," Smith said in an email.

However, Senate Minority Leader Janet Petersen, D-Des Moines, who has been a critic of efforts by majority Republicans to address sexual harassment at the Statehouse, disagreed with the secrecy regarding Jamison's departure.

"Iowans deserve to hear the details surrounding director Jamison’s termination. We have seen multiple cases of sexual harassment in state government. It is clearly still a problem that needs to be addressed," Petersen said.

Jamison's dismissal is the latest twist in a series of developments involving sexual harassment at the Iowa Capitol. Last September, state officials agreed to a $1.75 million settlement with former Iowa Senate Republican Caucus Communications Director Kirsten Anderson. She alleged she was fired in 2013 just hours after filing a complaint alleging a toxic work environment within the Senate GOP Caucus that was fraught with sexual harassment.

Former Iowa Senate Majority Leader Bill Dix, R-Shell Rock, who had insisted Anderson was fired for poor work performance, resigned from the Senate on March 12. Dix, who is married with three children, quit just hours after a video and photos were posted online that showed him kissing a female Statehouse lobbyist at a Des Moines tavern in what appeared to a consensual encounter.

Reynolds is a former Clarke County treasurer and she has publicly appeared with Jamison at Iowa Capitol news conferences where they have jointly spoken to promote Iowa Finance Authority Initiatives.

Iowa House Speaker Linda Upmeyer, R-Clear Lake, issued a statement Saturday afternoon backing Reynolds' action.

“As Gov. Reynolds has said, the state of Iowa has a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to sexual harassment. I support her decision and appreciate her swift, decisive action to immediately address this issue," Upmeyer said.

"Harassment of any kind has no place in today’s society."

Reynolds has named Iowa Finance Authority Chief Programs officer Carolann Jensen as interim director.

The Iowa Finance Authority was established in 1975 to undertake programs to assist in the attainment of housing for low- and moderate-income Iowans. It offers a variety of programs that address housing needs, from homeless assistance to multifamily rental to single-family home ownership.

The Iowa Finance Authority also offers programs to aid in community development, including the issuance of tax-exempt bonds, providing the lowest-cost funds for drinking water and wastewater facilities in Iowa, and Iowa Title Guaranty, offering guaranteed titles to real property in Iowa.

Jamison was named executive director of the Iowa Finance Authority in January of 2011 and has served on the National Council of State Housing Agencies Board of Directors.

He had previously served as Story County treasurer from 1995 to 2010 and had been president of the Iowa State County Treasurers Association. He also had been co-chair of a task force that established the IowaTreasurers.org website for all 99 county treasurers. 

Jamison is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and an Iowa State University graduate. He also has a finance master certificate from the National Association of County Collectors, Treasurers and Finance Officers through the University of Missouri — St. Louis.