Executive Committee

Jeff and Sally Fager moved to Mount Pleasant in 2012, when Jeff became the Vice President for Academic Affairs at Iowa Wesleyan University.  After retiring from that position, he continued to teach philosophy and ethics as an adjunct for a few more years.

Jeff became active in the Henry County Democratic party and took on the duties of chair in the summer of 2018.  In 2020 he ran for Iowa House District 84 but lost to incumbent Joe Mitchell.  He looks forward to one more term as the chair and helping to make Henry County Democrats a visible and effective presence in Henry County.

Pat was born in Lee County, IA.  She moved to Mount Pleasant in 1971 to work as a secretary at the Mental Health Institute.  When the prison came, the facilities became known as the Mount Pleasant Treatment Center where she retired in 2007.  Pat became active in the Democrat Party in the 1980’s.  Over the years she has met countless Presidential candidates as they visited the area.  She is currently the Treasurer of the Henry County Democrats and is active in the VFW Auxiliary.  She is passionate about legislative issues concerning veterans as well as healthcare access and affordability.  One of Pat’s favorite hobbies is bowling with the Pin Pals bowling league on Tuesdays.  

Deb is a native of Henry County who left for 23 years and returned when she retired in 2010.  Deb attended the University of Iowa and worked as a secretary in her professional career. She has traveled extensively both domestically and foreign, is an avid reader and she loves golfing.  

Deb had been registered as an independent for years and felt like it didn’t mean much. When she moved back to Henry County in 2010 she decided to finally take a stand and registered as a Democrat.  Deb and her husband Gary are very active in local politics. Deb has been Secretary to Henry County Democrats for two years and was Treasurer for Jeff Fager’s 2020 State House of Representatives Campaign. Deb feels the Democratic Party has a good future in Henry County.

Mike Heaton is the founder and President of Traction Steam Communication and co-host of the Three Rural White Guys podcast. Mike has previously served as the Vice President for University Advancement at Iowa Wesleyan University and as Regional Managing Director for UNICEF USA.  He has a Masters Degree in Nonprofit Management and earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Iowa. Mike serves on the Old Threshers Foundation Board of Directors and is a founding board member of PFLAG Mount Pleasant.  Mike is a native of Mount Pleasant.  His wife Abigail is a local social worker and they have two teenage children.

Carrie Woline Gracey grew up on a multi-generational family farm near Swedesburg. She earned her bachelors degree from Coe College in Cedar Rapids and received a Doctorate of Physical Therapy from the University of Iowa. She returned to Mount Pleasant in 2019 with her husband Kellen and their toddler. She is the manager and a physical therapist at Athletico Physical Therapy. She also serves on the Main Street Mount Pleasant board of directors. She is passionate about local, state, and national politics and hopes to inspire others to be as well. Helping to build community and opportunity for everyone is a big driver of why she came home, and why she has put down roots to stay.

Sarah comes from a long line of feminist, Iowa Democrats. She has an undergraduate degree in American/Women’s Studies and an MS in Community Health. As an advocate for social justice issues, she has dedicated a portion of her career working in and volunteering for women’s reproductive healthcare clinics.  In her free time, Sarah enjoys catching up on current events (i.e., doom-scrolling through the day’s news), hooking wool rugs, gardening, walking, and spending time with her husband and two boys.