Peter Cownie

Peter Cownie
84th General Assembly portrait (2011)
Member of the Iowa House of Representatives from the 42nd district 60th (2009–2013)
Incumbent
Assumed office January 12, 2009
Preceded by	Libby Jacobs
Personal details
Born	April 19, 1980 Des Moines, Iowa, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Mary
Residence	West Des Moines, Iowa
Alma mater	University of Virginia Drake University
Occupation	President, Junior Achievement of Central Iowa
Religion	Roman Catholic
Website	legis.iowa.gov/...

Peter Cownie (born April 19, 1980) is the Iowa State Representative from the 42nd District. A Republican, he has served in the Iowa House of Representatives since 2009. Cownie was born and raised in Des Moines, Iowa and resides in West Des Moines, Iowa. He has a B.A. in American government from the University of Virginia and a Master's of Public Administration with an emphasis in public policy from Drake University.

As of June 2013, Cownie serves on several committees in the Iowa House – the Agriculture, Government Oversight, and Ways and Means committees. He also serves as the chair of the Commerce committee.

Biography

Peter Cownie, resident of West Des Moines, Iowa was born and raised in Des Moines, Iowa. Peter graduated from Dowling High School in West Des Moines in 1999. Peter then graduated from the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Virginia in 2003 after receiving his B.A in American Government.

After college Peter moved to Washington D.C. and worked at the Department of Transportation as an assistant to then Secretary of Transportation, Norman Mineta. Peter worked as a scheduling and advance assistant for Secretary Mineta traveling the United States and the world furthering the United States’ transportation interests.

After living in Washington D.C. for three years, Peter then moved back to his home state of Iowa. Peter worked at the Iowa Statehouse for the Iowa Senate Republican Caucus staff. Peter was a legislative analyst staffing the State Government Committee and the Health and Human Services Budget Subcommittee. While working at the Iowa Statehouse, Peter received his Masters in Public Administration with an emphasis in Public Policy from Drake University.

Peter is now serving as President of Junior Achievement of Central Iowa. Junior Achievement is a nonprofit organization located in Des Moines with a mission of teaching students K-12 the merits of entrepreneurship, financial literacy, savings and economics. Junior Achievement of Central Iowa reaches over 27,500 students annually.

In the election of 2008, Peter was elected to his first term in the Iowa House of Representatives. Peter represented District 60 which is a majority of West Des Moines in Polk County. Peter won re-election in 2010 with over 60% of the vote. Peter has served on the Education Committee, Ways & Means Committee and was Chair of the State Government Committee in the Legislature. Peter is also Chair of the State Government Efficiency Review Committee and served on the Iowa Commission of Interstate Cooperation. Peter won re-election to his third term representing District 42 after redistricting. Peter currently serves as Chair of the House Commerce Committee as well as the Agriculture, Government Oversight and Ways and Means Committees.

Peter also serves his community as Chair of the West Des Moines Community Enrichment Foundation, the West Des Moines Human Services Board, the Dowling Catholic High School Foundation Board, the Greater Dallas County Development Alliance Board and the Successful Iowa Families Caucus. Peter volunteers for Junior Achievement of Central Iowa, Boys & Girls Club, and Variety Club of Central Iowa. Peter is a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in West Des Moines and is married to his high school sweetheart, Mary. Peter and Mary have one son.

Electoral history

*incumbent

Election	Political result		Candidate		Party	Votes	%
Iowa House of Representatives primary elections, 2008 [1] District 60		Republican		Peter Cownie	Republican	unopposed
Iowa House of Representatives general elections, 2008 [2] District 60 Turnout: 17,321		Republican hold		Peter Cownie	Republican	8,905	51.41%
				Alan R. Koslow	Democratic	6,874	39.69%
				Russ Gibson	Libertarian	499	2.88%
Iowa House of Representatives primary elections, 2010 [3] District 60		Republican		Peter Cownie*	Republican	unopposed
Iowa House of Representatives general elections, 2010 [4] District 60 Turnout: 12,739		Republican hold		Peter Cownie*	Republican	7,761	60.92%
				Alan R. Koslow	Democratic	4,333	34.01%
Iowa House of Representatives primary elections, 2012 [5] District 42		Republican		Peter Cownie*	Republican	unopposed
Iowa House of Representatives general elections, 2012 [6] District 42 Turnout: 18,030		Republican (newly redistricted)		Peter Cownie*	Republican	9,581	53.14%
				Mike McRee	Democratic	7,341	40.72%

References

1. "Official Results Report – Statewide, 2008 Primary Election-06-03-2008 Party: All" (PDF). Iowa Secretary of State. 2008-06-19. p. 194. Retrieved 2013-01-15.
2. "State of Iowa Official Canvass Summary, November 4, 2008 General Election" (PDF). Iowa Secretary of State. p. 51. Retrieved 2013-01-15.
3. "Official Results Report, 2010 Primary Election held Tuesday, June 8th 2010" (PDF). Iowa Secretary of State. 2010-07-01. Retrieved 2013-01-15.
4. "Official Results Report, General Election held Tuesday, November 2nd 2010" (PDF). Iowa Secretary of State. 2010-11-23. p. 101. Retrieved 2013-01-15.
5. "2012 Primary Election Canvass Summary" (PDF). Iowa Secretary of State. p. 144. Retrieved 2013-01-15.
6. "2012 General Election Canvass Summary" (PDF). Iowa Secretary of State. p. 88. Retrieved 2013-01-15.

External links

• Representative Peter Cownie official Iowa General Assembly site
• Profile at Project Vote Smart
• Financial information (state office) at the National Institute for Money in State Politics