Michael Kiernan grew up around politics, with the Kiernan Steak Fry held annually in his back yard and national figures such as Jimmy Carter making stops by the Kiernan farmstead in Madison County. But he couldn’t have been less interested. However, later in his teenage years, first at Dowling Catholic High School then Wartburg College, his upbringing took hold. Kiernan became an active member of the Iowa Young Democrats, worked for Missouri Congressman Richard Gephardt in Washington, D.C., and led former Mayor Preston Daniels’ campaign at 21, bypassing an opportunity to become an officer in the U.S. Navy. After several years in the public sector, he founded The PR Group, and later took on an ownership role in the Metro Market. But it was his experiences with opening that business that encouraged him to take the leap he’d always thought about: running for public office. Kiernan was elected to the Des Moines City Council in a special May 2004 election. Now at age 30, he is beginning his first full term in office and is eager to face the challenges of the next four years.

How were you introduced to politics?

I grew up around politics and public service. My dad was a county supervisor in Madison County and my mom was a political activist for years and secretary of the Iowa Democratic Party. Growing up, I spent most of my time with my mom on the campaign trail. The Harkin Steak Fry started on our farm in 1973 as the Kiernan Steak Fry. The funny thing is I hated it as a kid.

Why did you hate it?

If I had to walk in one more parade or knock on one more door… Other kids had normal lives. For trick-or-treating they would get to dress up in fun costumes and go door-to-door. My trick-or-treat nights consisted of handing out fliers at doorways. People always felt sorry for me and gave me candy. They’d answer the door and say, “What are you dressed up as?” and I’d say, “I’m a candidate. Take this.” I was like 8. Yeah, I suffered.

When did the tide turn as far as your interest in politics?

It was one of those things that came naturally. After college, people would ask me, “Where did you learn to run a campaign?” And I would say, “I don’t know. It just came to me. It was something I was socialized around.” I think it does get in your blood.

You had planned to become an officer in the Navy after college. At what point did you realize you were staying in civilian life?

That was kind of a disturbing point in my life. I was hired by Secretary of Agriculture Patty Judge and worked as her press secretary and worked there for four years. I was sitting there in my cubicle one day and it was like, where did all the time go? It created a real sense of urgency in me to just go take a big risk. I left the Department of Agriculture and started a public relations agency, The PR Group.

You consider yourself an entrepreneur. What about entrepreneurship gets you going?

Maybe it’s the Irish in me – it’s the fight. I like that kind of excitement. I think I thrive in that kind of atmosphere when you’re going 100 mph with your hair on fire. Also, it’s really those public-private partnerships that change the whole community. It’s the entrepreneur who says, “You know what? I’ve got a great idea for Des Moines,” and is backed up by local government and takes that risk and it pays off.

What was that first City Council campaign like for you?

It was a lot different than I ever thought it would be. It was tough to let go of the campaign reins where you’re not the campaign manager, because I had played that role so much. And I don’t care who you are; I have great respect for anybody who puts their name out on the line. Because it’s a process in which you find out a lot about yourself, and you really open yourself up to the community, for better or worse. You’ll be judged on the past and present, and that takes a lot of nerve, because who among us is perfect?

What about your first term on the Des Moines City Council brings you a sense of pride?

You become so excited about all the things you could do, but you don’t want to lose sight of the fact that you have to focus on a couple of things and focus on getting those accomplished. So that’s what I tried to do. And one of the big things was the Des Moines Music Commission. I wanted to do something that worked toward building that creative economy in Des Moines, changing the culture.

What are your political ambitions beyond the Des Moines City Council?

That’s a question I get every day, and a lot of that is just because of my age. But I can’t read the tea leaves into the future. I’m old enough to know that you can’t guess at what you’re going to be doing in two or three years. I think too many people in public service are too busy looking down the road and looking at themselves instead of looking at the job that needs to be done. That’s where I want to stay focused.

Do you have any time to have fun?

I don’t go out for anything. Isn’t that sad? People say, “What do you do as a hobby?” and I’m like, “I build condos on the side.” I’m a historian, whether that’s cars or old homes. We just bought a ’65 350-GT Mustang. If people were to say, “What’s your ultimate fantasy? Be the president?” I’d say, “No, I’d like to race NASCAR.” That’s my wild side, I guess. I love fast cars. But maybe that’s a going 100 mph with my hair on fire kind of deal. If you see a blue streak going down the highway, that’s me.

Is the City Council part of the fun in your life right now?

It is. And sometimes my biggest challenge in life is to sometimes stop, take a look around, and say, “Isn’t life great?”