Get to Know Lori Lyon
Mom, Wife, Educator, Leader, and Public Servant.
Raised with Iowa Values
Lori Lyon grew up in Maynard, a small farming community in Northeast Iowa, where the values of hard work and service were part of daily life—her mother worked as a nurse and her father as a banker. After graduating from West Central High School, she continued her education at the University of Northern Iowa, laying the foundation for her lifelong commitment to learning and community. Lori and her husband, Larry, have lived and served in Waukee for the past 30 years. They’ve raised three sons here, and believe Waukee is a safe, vibrant community, filled with services, facilities and amenities that enable the highest quality of living for residents. She is a retired educator and part-time reading education consultant. Lori enjoys family time, flower gardening, tending to her urban chickens, and Hawkeye football.
Working to Make a Difference
Lori has served her community as President of the Waukee Community School Board; participating on the Board for the past 8 years. She has served on the Finance Committee, has been head of the Policy Committee, and is the current head of the Capital Projects Committee. Lori has participated in the Waukee Leadership Institute, working along side APEX students and local colleagues to freshen the downtown triangle. Lori has experience with vision planning, and supports the guiding principles of the Waukee Comprehensive Plan. With a BA from the University of Northern Iowa, an MA from Viterbo University, and Reading Recovery Trainer certification, she dedicated 32 years to public education as a teacher and trainer, serving Waterloo and Des Moines schools. For the past three years, she has worked as a part-time private reading consultant supporting districts across Iowa.
Lori's Goal for the Waukee City Council
During my term on the Waukee City Council, Lori Lyon is committed to ensuring that Waukee continues to thrive as a fiscally strong, forward-looking, and family-friendly community. Her goal is to encourage both economic growth and fiscal responsibility by supporting the recruitment of large and small businesses alike, ensuring that taxpayer dollars are managed with care while expanding opportunities for local residents. Lori believes intentional, well-planned growth is key to maintaining Waukee’s high quality of life, and she will prioritize infrastructure expansion in a way that is both efficient and sustainable.
Lori Lyon also understands that a strong city depends on strong staff. That’s why she is dedicated to ensuring every department has the tools, technology, and personnel needed to deliver services at the highest level. She will advocate for investing in city staff so they can continue to provide residents with responsive, top-tier service. At the same time, she envisions Waukee as a regional destination for recreation and connection. Lori will explore innovative entertainment and outdoor recreational opportunities designed to engage all ages—enhancing Waukee’s reputation as not just a place to live, but a place to enjoy.
Equally important is her commitment to listening to residents and collaborating on the city’s future. Lori plans to work closely with the community to bring the Comprehensive Plan to life and ensure that vision planning reflects the aspirations of all who call Waukee home. Finally, Lori sees communication as a cornerstone of good governance. She will strengthen the city’s website as both a reliable communication resource and a transparent dashboard for tracking current projects, keeping residents informed every step of the way.
With these goals, she hopes to build a stronger, more connected, and more vibrant Waukee for today and for generations to come.
