\n Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate has dedicated his life to public service. Now in his third term as Iowa?s Commissioner of Elections\, Secretary Pate is guided by three core principles: service\, participation and integrity.
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\n Upon returning to the Secretary of State?s office in 2015\, 20 years after he was elected to that post for the first time\, Paul Pate immediately set out to increase participation in Iowa elections by instituting online voter registration. More than 500\,000 Iowans have registered to vote using the system.
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\n He has also taken steps to protect election integrity by drafting Iowa?s Voter ID laws and successfully defending them in court.
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\n Secretary Pate also worked with the Iowa Legislature to enact the Safe at Home program. Safe at Home is aimed at protecting survivors of domestic violence\, sexual assault\, trafficking and stalking by keeping their address confidential.
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\n Earlier this year\, he launched the Iowa Businesses Against Trafficking coalition. More than 550 businesses joined the coalition within its first month.
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\n Secretary Pate served as the President of the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS) from July 2019-July 2020.
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\n His voter education and election cybersecurity efforts have been recognized nationally by NASS\, the U.S. Election Assistance Commission\, and the National/Student Parent Mock Election organization.
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\n Paul Pate is also a nationally recognized small business leader\, a father of three and grandfather of five. He and his wife Jane live in Cedar Rapids.
Kellie Markey\, Founder &\; Executive Director of Dorothy'\;s House
\n After years in a successful marketing career that took her across the globe\, Kellie decided it was time \;to settle back into her hometown of Des Moines\, where she began flipping houses for income. She leaned into volunteerism as a way to reconnect with the community and make friends.
While volunteering with teen girls at Y.E.S.S.\, Kellie was shocked by the nature and severity of abuse the children in our community endure. \;She was inspired to become a foster parent. It wasn?t long before her worlds merged: she discovered the home that would become Dorothy?s House.
\n\nShe purchased the home\, the adjacent home and the empty lot between the two. She immediately began working on the properties and found a groundswell of support in the community. The homes opened in January 2016 as a ?safe place for the practice of life for those whose lives have been interrupted by human trafficking\, exploitation and prostitution.?
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Robert Brownell was re-elected in 2016 and is currently serving his fifth term. \; Supervisor Brownell serves the citizens of Clive\, Johnston\, Urbandale\, Windsor Heights\, Grimes\, Polk City\, Alleman\, Elkhart and a portion of Sheldahl that is part of Polk County. Brownell?s experience in government began as a City Councilmember in Clive\, elected in 1985. \;He was elected as Mayor in 1993 where he served until his election to the Polk County Board of Supervisors in 2000.
\n\nBrownell was raised in Cedar Rapids\, Iowa. \; He attended Missouri Military Academy in Mexico\, Missouri\, and graduated from Kennedy High School in Cedar Rapids. \; He obtained his undergraduate degree from the University of Northern Iowa cum laude in English and Education. \; He has attended Drake University for post graduate work. \; Brownell served as Branch Manager for Yellow Transportation in Des Moines for 15 years. \; Prior to Yellow Transportation\, he held several management positions with Roadway Express across the midwest. \; Bob is also a published author. \; He is currently working with Carve Literary Services. \; Brownell is married to Jenna Jurgensen and has a son\, daughter-in-law and one granddaughter\, Carmen and one grandson\, Oscar.
\n\nYou can reach Supervisor Brownell at: \;robert.brownell@polkcountyiowa.gov.
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