Laura Bergus is running for a second term on Iowa City's city council. This image is Laura smiling into the camera, wearing a dark-grey blazer over a purple shirt. Her long hair is down and she is wearing beaded earrings.

Laura Bergus is a lifelong resident of Iowa City. She has served on Iowa City city council since January 2020. In her public services, Laura is focused on community development, safety, and engagement. She helped create the Truth & Reconciliation Commission, and drafted the Resolution adopted by city council in support of the Black Lives Matter movement in June 2020.

She is proud to have contributed to the Iowa City city council’s five-year strategic plan.

As a city councilor, Laura represents the city on the boards of Better Together 2030, the Joint Emergency Communications Services Association, Johnson County SEATS para transit, and the Urbanized Area Policy Board of the Metropolitan Planning Organization of Johnson County. Laura currently chairs the City Council’s Economic Development Committee.

Outside of her council role, Laura serves on Iowa Legal Aid’s Iowa City Regional Advisory Council and the board of directors of Family Folk Machine.

Laura’s first job in high school was televising city council meetings for the City of Iowa City. It led to more than 20 years of involvement in local government and deep engagement with Iowa City.

Laura brings the values she learned in her public service to city council: fairness, transparency, and accountability. Before her election to Iowa City Council, Laura’s leadership engaged her in the fabric of our community, and includes:

  • Working to bring neighbors together with active involvement in the South District Neighborhood Association, which helps educate Iowa City about the area’s many amenities and welcoming neighborhoods. Laura also recruited volunteers, organized events, and raised funds to benefit Grant Wood while her child was in elementary school.

  • Connecting the organizations and agencies directly serving our community with critical funding through service as a member of the board of the Community Foundation of Johnson County and the executive council of 5224GOOD.

  • Giving hundreds of hours to help victims of domestic abuse, counseling non-profits, and defending Iowans against creditors, including through Iowa Legal Aid’s Volunteer Lawyer Project, and being recognized by the Iowa Supreme Court for her pro bono legal services.

  • Joining as a founding member of FilmScene’s board of directors, helping to bring independent, non-profit cinema to Iowa City. She’s now working with FilmScene and the Englert to make Iowa City the greatest small city for the arts in America.

Laura attended Grant Wood and Hoover elementary schools, went to South East Junior High and City High. She left high school at age 16 to attend the University of Iowa. There she earned her degree in anthropology with special honors and highest distinction. After working in local government for several years, she attended the University of Iowa College of Law, where she received academic awards and graduated with highest distinction.

Since 2011, Laura has been an attorney in Iowa City. She is now an owner and managing partner at Hayek, Moreland, Smith & Bergus, LLP. Laura is also a professional mediator and works in collaborative law. She collaborates with community partners in restorative and transformative justice practices.

Laura lives with her husband, Nick, their child, Evelyn, and their adopted husky-lab mix, Zuri.