Dolores Mertz

Dolores Mary Mertz (née Shay; May 30, 1928 – October 18, 2022) was an American politician from Iowa.

Born in Bancroft, Iowa to John and Gertrude (née Erickson) Shay, she earned her AA from Briar Cliff College (now Briar Cliff University). Mertz served on several committees in the Iowa House – the Judiciary committee; the Natural Resources committee; the Transportation committee; and the Agriculture committee, where she is chair. She also serves on the Agriculture and Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee. Her political experience includes twenty-five years as Democrat precinct leader and 13 years on the Kossuth County Central Committee. In 2012, Governor Terry Branstad appointed Mertz to serve on the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission.