Paula Dierenfeld

Paula Dierenfeld has served as the Mayor of Johnston since being elected in 2008, making her the longest-serving female mayor in Iowa. Before becoming mayor, she served for eight years on the Johnston City Council. Dierenfeld is a retired attorney and was a partner at the Nyemaster Goode law firm, where her practice areas included utility law, administrative law, and legislative representation. Her career in public service also includes roles as a Commissioner for the Iowa Utilities Board, legal counsel to former Iowa Governor Terry Branstad, Research Staff Director in the Iowa General Assembly, and a staff assistant to U.S. Senator Charles Grassley. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Northern Iowa and a Juris Doctorate from Drake University Law School. In 2023, she was inducted into the Iowa Women's Hall of Fame.