AFSCME President Danny Homan elected Iowa Democratic Party first vice chair

The Iowa Democratic Party’s State Central Committee elected Danny Homan to serve as first vice chair today. Homan is the longtime president of AFSCME Iowa Council 61, the state’s largest public-employee union. He is a frequent critic of Governor Terry Branstad and has been a plaintiff in several lawsuits against the governor. Most recently, Homan and twenty Democratic state lawmakers challenged Branstad’s actions to close two state-run mental health institutions. A Polk County District Court judge just heard motions in that case on October 8 and is expected to rule during the next 30 days. Homan was also involved in the unsuccessful lawsuit challenging the governor’s closure of the Iowa Juvenile Home, as well as a case that produced a unanimous Iowa Supreme Court ruling saying Branstad had improperly exercised his veto power. However, that 2012 ruling did not force the state to reopen any Iowa Workforce Development field offices, the closure of which had prompted the lawsuit.

Jim Mowrer was elected first vice chair in January but stepped down from that position in August, when he launched his Congressional campaign in the third district.

Joe Stutler, a central committee member from Marion (Linn County) who is active on civil rights and veterans issues, also ran for first vice chair today. Stutler is currently vice chair of the Iowa Democratic Party’s Disability Caucus.

I enclose below the Iowa Democratic Party’s press release announcing Homan’s election.

Iowa Democratic Party press release, October 10 (emphasis in original):

Danny Homan Elected IDP Vice Chair

AMES – The Iowa Democratic Party’s State Central Committee (SCC) today elected Danny Homan as the IDP’s new Vice Chair.

In his speech to SCC members today, Homan said that he is excited to help build a strong and vibrant Iowa Democratic Party and elect Democrats up and down the ballot.

“I am honored to be joining the IDP’s leadership team as Vice Chair,” Homan said. “I’ve been impressed with the work Andy McGuire and her team have done thus far, and I share their commitment to building a strong Party from the grassroots up. I greatly look forward to helping the IDP run another successful caucus, and to electing Democrats up and down the ballot to fight for Iowa’s working families.”

“We are thrilled to welcome Danny as the IDP’s new Vice Chair,” said IDP Chair Dr. Andy McGuire. “Danny is a longtime advocate for Iowa’s workers and a powerful voice for progressive policies that lift up working families. Danny will be an excellent addition to our leadership team as we expand our efforts and spread our message across Iowa. I look forward to working with Danny to run a successful caucus and turn Iowa blue in 2016.”

Homan is currently serving his sixth term as the President of AFSCME Iowa Council 61. From 1988 to 2005, Homan served as a Union representative serving AFSCME members in Northwest Iowa.

Homan proudly served in the United States Army from 1971 to 1973 as an Atomic Weapons Specialist.

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