Elaine Szymoniak (1920–2009) was an American politician and public servant who held legislative and municipal offices in the state of Iowa. A member of the Democratic Party, she is recognized for her long-term involvement in local and state governance, as well as her professional background in speech pathology and vocational rehabilitation.
Szymoniak served on the Des Moines City Council from 1977 to 1988. Following her tenure in municipal government, she was elected to the Iowa Senate, where she represented the 36th district from 1988 until 2000. During her time in the state legislature, her work focused on areas such as healthcare, education, human services, and civil rights.
Before entering elected office, Szymoniak worked as a speech pathologist and served as a supervisor for the Iowa Department of Education's Vocational Rehabilitation Division. She earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin and a master’s degree from St. Louis University.
In 2001, Szymoniak was inducted into the Iowa Women's Hall of Fame. The honor cited her advocacy for women’s rights, her efforts to improve state services for individuals with disabilities, and her leadership in the Des Moines community. She remained active in various civic organizations until her death in 2009.
