Bob Brownell

Saying public officials have a responsibility to “conduct ourselves in a professional and optimistic way” as the nation forges its way through the current down economy, Robert Brownell took the oath of office to begin his third term on the Polk County Board of Supervisors...

Today is a day to feel pride and show our support for a fellow Iowan: former Gov. Tom Vilsack...

Faced with an economy that officially has been in a recession for 12 months now, President-elect Barack Obama has suggested that he’ll ask Congress for funding for a massive public works program designed to create 2.5 million jobs by 2011...

It seems like everyone is looking for savings these days. From Christmas shoppers to business executives to the Mom managing the family budget, finding greater value is a priority...

There was a silver lining today in the dark clouds of the June floods that hit the Birdland neighborhoodparticularly hard and virtually shut down the Des Moines downtown for several days. Polk County Emergency Management Director A.J...

Change is almost always hard, but I was pleased to see Iowa Senate Republicans select Paul McKinley as their new leader. Sen. Paul Wieck of Sioux City, who has been in the post since 2007, has been a capable leader during difficult times for our party...

When it comes to good ideas, sometimes you still have to say “no.” That’s the situation I found myself in yesterday as the Board of Supervisors voted on a $785,000 no-interest loan for the Southeast Polk school district to cover the costs for a pedestrian tunnel between its current high...

If you’ve ever had your house or car broken into, aside from feeling angry, violated and helpless, you want to see the person whodid it to you receive a measure of justice. You’re not too interested in what “jail diversion” option might be available to the miscreant...

I was watching CNBC one day while I was working out. I wanted to get their perspective on the next financial catastrophe that might befall us. CNBC tends a little toward the “alarmist” side of the spectrum...

We conducted this interview so you could learn a little more about me, where I stand on the issues, and what challenges I believe the State of Iowa faces moving forward. We’ve posted it to YouTube, so please feel free to share it.     

I am sure the people of Iowa welcomed Speaker Pelosi and are grateful for her first hand accounting, in September, of the damage incurred by our state as a result of the flooding in early June of this year. It was good to see her putting in some quality time with us...

The “D-Line” is the newest offering in public transportation in greater Des Moines. This service offers a trolley-like vehicle that goes east to west from the capitol building to the Meredith Publishing Corporation and then back again. About 20 or 25 blocks one-way...

I was “invited” by the US Attorney, Matt Whittaker, and his office to testify for the prosecution in the CIETC trial of multiple defendants. The testimony was directed at three defendants, but not the CIETC CEO Romona Cunningham. Her trial would be separate, if she ever was to have one...