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Others who knew Stevens, including former Iowa gubernatorial candidate Ed Fallon, also expressed shock about Stevens' arrest and the allegation by Aviva officials that the compensation specialist had spent most of the last five years embezzling an estimated $5.9 million from one of the world's largest insurance firms.
"She struck me as a passionate person who cared deeply about a number of issues," said Ione Shadduck, a Des Moines lawyer and a member of the Progressive Coalition Board. "She was a big help in getting our organization started. I am in shock."
Stevens, 58, has been accused by Aviva officials in a civil lawsuit of manipulating the company's computer system used to pay agent commissions. Aviva's lawsuit claims she had commissions paid in the name of former agents deposited in an account that she and her spouse, Marla, held in a bank in Indianapolis.
Formal federal charges have yet to be made public, but since news of her arrest broke Monday, a picture of Stevens has emerged as a political activist involved deeply involved in gay and other progressive issues.
Stevens established two Iowa political action committees - Rainbow Equality PAC and Queer Education PAC. She also apparently played an instrumental role in the establishment of the Progressive Coalition of Central Iowa in 2006, and remains listed as the chairwoman of that organization's board.
Phyllis and Marla Stevens, also gave more than $175,000 to state and federal candidates over the last two election cycles. Most of the contributions went to Democratic candidates and organizations like Moveon.org, but a few female Republican candidates in Iowa also received money.
Fallon, who received $4,875 from the couple to run for governor and another $4,600 in his 2008 primary challenge of Rep. Leonard Boswell, disclosed that he had been involved with them in a venture to establish a housing cooperative in the Sherman Hill district of Des Moines.
"We have known Phyllis Stevens since 2006, yet were totally shocked, as was everyone, at what has happened," Fallon said in a statement.
"We have received contributions from both Phyllis and Marla Stevens, as have many candidates and organizations, and recently worked with them on starting a housing cooperative, which never got off the ground."