About Aime

Aime Wichtendahl is a member of the Hiawatha City Council and is the first openly transwoman to be elected to government in the state of Iowa and has served since 2016.

She grew up in Newhall, Iowa, and was part of the last graduating class at La Salle High School in 1998. She graduated from Mount Mercy University in 2005 with a BA in Journalism and Political Science. 

Wichtendahl has always had a passion for politics since childhood. “I remember the Presidential Election of 1988, Bush vs. Dukakis and trying to figure out how the electoral college worked.” 

Aime first became involved in politics in 2008 – being a state delegate for Barack Obama. In 2015, she ran for the Hiawatha City Council on a platform of supporting small businesses. 

“At the time, I vastly disagreed with how the city handled the redevelopment of Emmons, North Center Point and Robins Rd and thought the city was taking too heavy-handed tactics in relocating the businesses there.” 

In the 2015 election, Aime received the most votes of any candidate in the race. Upon taking office in 2016, she worked closely with Mayor Bennett and multiple councils to increase small business development throughout Hiawatha, reduce the property tax levy from $15.41 to $13.78 (in 2024), implement green energy solutions, raise the minimum wage in Linn County, and build new multi- family housing. 

She was reelected to the council in 2019 and 2023 without opposition. 

Outside of politics, Aime is a proud parent of her son, Steven. She is a member of the American Federation of Musicians local 137 and an author. She has written one novel, ‘The Butterfly and the Flame’ in 2011. She has contributed to the Real Mainstream as a journalist and columnist.