Senator Dick Dearden is serving his fifth term in the Iowa Senate. He represents Senate District 34, which includes the east part of Des Moines and Pleasant Hill.

Senator Dearden is chair of the Natural Resources Committee. He also serves on the Appropriations, Ethics, Labor & Business Relations, Rules & Administration, and State Government committees.

Dick Dearden is a member of AMVETS, American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees retirees, Izaak Walton League, Pheasants Forever, Ducks Unlimited, and the National Wild Turkey Federation. He is a six-year veteran of the National Guard and former chairman of the Polk County Democratic Party.

Dick is a retired job developer for the Fifth Judicial District. He graduated from Des Moines East High School.

Dick and his wife, Sharon, are Des Moines natives and have been married since 1959. They have two sons, David and Mark, one daughter, Pamela, and six grandchildren.