Background
He grew up on the city"s west side, attending Theodore Roosevelt High School and Iowa State University.
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Frank Cownie
Edit ProfileCareer
He owns and operates Cownie Furs, a store that has been in his family for generations. Cownie is a Des Moines native. He also served several terms on the Planning and Zoning Commission and was chairman of Downtown Des Moines, Incorporated.
While Iowa"s city elections are non-partisan, Cownie is a Democrat.
He narrowly finished 2nd in a six-way jungle primary in 2003, and later defeated Councilwoman Christine Hensley by a nine-point margin.
He succeeded fellow Democrat Preston Daniels. In 2007 he was re-elected with nearly 80 percent of the vote, receiving only marginal competition from Socialist Worker candidate Diana Newberry.
2003 Des Moines Mayoral Primary Election
Christine Hensley 7,301 (365%)
Frank Cownie 4,330 (217%)
Mark McCormick 4,298 (215%)
Gayle Collins 3,456 (1729%)
Peter M. Rose 388 (194%)
Mary J. Martin 180 (09%)
2003 Des Moines Mayoral General Election
Frank Cownie 16,581 (542%)
Christine Hensley 13,848 (453%)
2007 Des Moines Mayoral General Election
Frank Cownie 6,455 (790%)
Diana Newberry 1,617 (198%)
2011 Des Moines Mayoral General Election
Frank Cownie 4,363 (921%)
Write-in 374 (79%).
Membership
Prior to serving as mayor, he served for two years as an at-large member of the Des Moines City Council.
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Born
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Nationality
American -
Political Party
Democratic party