About Paul Davis

Paul Davis was born and raised in Baltimore and often describes himself as “born and bred a Baltimorean, but an Iowan for life.” He attended a Catholic private high school in Baltimore before being recruited in 1973 to play football at Graceland University. He earned a partial football scholarship and also competed on the university’s varsity tennis team. Davis graduated from Graceland in 1977 with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and a minor in Political Science.

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Following college, Davis launched a 19-year career in television broadcasting as a sports anchor and reporter. His career took him to newsrooms across the country, including stops in Harrisonburg, Bismarck, Lafayette, Albuquerque, Baltimore, and Augusta. During his broadcasting career, Davis interviewed some of the biggest names in sports, including Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Cal Ripken Jr., John Elway, and legendary football coach Tom Landry. He also developed a friendship and mentoring relationship with renowned sportscaster Jim Nantz of CBS.

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Throughout his broadcasting career, Davis covered many of the world’s premier sporting events, including the World Series, Daytona 500, The Masters Tournament, the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament, and the Super Bowl. His work earned recognition from the Associated Press with awards for Best Sportscast and Best Sports Story. Davis also contributed to community causes during his broadcasting career, participating in Children’s Miracle Network fundraising telethons in Albuquerque and Augusta and serving as emcee of the Ms. Senior Augusta Beauty Pageant for five years. Also during his time in New Mexico, Davis was named Special Olympics Board Member of the Year. 

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More than two decades ago, Davis returned to Lamoni, Iowa, to serve as Senior Director of Development at Graceland University. In that role he managed fundraising efforts across Canada and the eastern United States and later took on additional responsibilities as Director of Alumni Programs. He also managed the student-run internet radio station KBUZ, serving the Lamoni community. While at Graceland, Davis traveled the state on behalf of the Iowa College Foundation, which raises funds each year to sustain Iowa's smaller colleges and universities.

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Davis became deeply involved in community service in Lamoni. He served five years as president of the Lions Clubs International Lamoni chapter, where he led new fundraising initiatives including launching a community Christmas parade and organizing youth vision testing in partnership with the University of Iowa. He also served as emcee of Lamoni’s Fourth of July festivities for six years and led a youth Bible study in his home for three years. In 2022, Davis was named pastor of the Lamoni congregation of the Community of Christ alongside his wife, Evelyn, and church member Rich Higdon.

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Davis retired four years ago but remains active in the community and enjoys flying drones, motorcycling, and jet skiing on Iowa’s lakes. He and his wife, Evelyn Conrad, a clinical mental health therapist with Infinity Health, are the parents of five children—four sons and one daughter—who all attended Graceland University. They are also the proud grandparents of two grandsons.

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Paul's Vision for Iowa and the People of House District 24​

 

Paul Davis is running for the Iowa House of Representatives because he believes Iowa—and the country—needs leaders who are willing to listen, seek common ground, and restore a spirit of cooperation in public life.

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After decades of working across the country in broadcasting, serving communities, and building relationships with people from many walks of life, Davis says he has grown increasingly concerned about the divisive tone that dominates modern politics. Rather than adding to the conflict, he wants to be part of a solution that helps bring people back together. In his view, progress only happens when people are willing to truly listen to one another and recognize that good ideas can come from any perspective, regardless of political party.

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Although he is running as a Democrat, Davis believes effective leadership requires humility and a willingness to compromise. He openly acknowledges that Republicans, Democrats, and Independents all bring valuable ideas to the table. His goal in the Iowa Legislature is to model the kind of respectful dialogue that allows lawmakers to move past partisan gridlock and focus on practical solutions that benefit all Iowans.

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Davis has called Iowa home for more than 25 years and says his love for the state is a major reason he decided to run. He believes Iowa is one of the country’s great treasures—an extraordinary place to raise families, build communities, and pursue opportunity. His vision is to help ensure that future generations inherit an Iowa defined by opportunity, strong communities, and respect for one another.

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While his campaign emphasizes unity and cooperation, Davis also cares deeply about several key issues that affect families across south-central Iowa. He believes Iowa must continue strengthening its education system so students graduate with both academic knowledge and practical life skills that prepare them for adulthood. He is also passionate about improving access to mental health services, a concern that has grown through years of conversations with his wife, a clinical mental health therapist, and through hearing the struggles many families face when seeking help.

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Davis also believes every Iowan deserves access to affordable, high-quality health care, regardless of where they live, and that Iowa must carefully protect its natural resources—especially its water and air—while working collaboratively with farmers and industry.

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Above all, Davis says he is running to live up to the true meaning of the word “representative.” If elected, he pledges to listen closely to the people of Lucas, Clarke, Wayne, and Decatur counties and work tirelessly to ensure their voices are heard at the Iowa Statehouse.

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