He received his BBA (1988) and MBA (1989, with “First in Class” honors) from the University of Iowa, and is Market President at MidWestOne Financial Group Clute was elected in 2006 with 7,250 votes (58%), defeating Democrat Jim Sammler.

After establishing his career in the Des Moines area, he joined the Bull Moose Club of young Republican professionals.

He worked for George W. Bush's Iowa caucus effort in the 2000 Republican Party presidential primaries.

[6] Mr. Clute was employed at Wells Fargo Financial (1989–2000) before joining the Citi Cards operations center in West Des Moines, Iowa.

In 2003 he was named to the Des Moines Business Record’s “40 Under 40” list, and honored on 2004 with Mason City High School Distinguished Alumni Award – Alumnus of the Decade 1980’s.