Iowa Rep. John Forbes announces 2024 bid for Polk County Board of Supervisors

Democratic Iowa state Rep. John Forbes will seek election to a different office in 2024: Polk County Board of Supervisors.

Forbes, a six-term state legislator, announced last week he is running to represent Polk County's District 2, a seat currently held by Republican Robert Brownell. Brownell announced in March he will retire at the end of his term following his wife's diagnosis with Alzheimer's Disease.

District 2 includes Urbandale, Johnston, Grimes, Polk City, Alleman, Sheldahl, Elkhart, Bondurant, Mitchellville and unincorporated portions of Polk County.

The election is Nov. 5, 2024, with a primary scheduled for June 4 if one is needed.

“It has truly been an honor representing Urbandale in the Iowa House of Representatives,” Forbes said in a statement announcing his candidacy. “But I believe I can have a greater impact on public policy as a member of the Board of Supervisors.”

Forbes' term is up Jan. 12, 2025.

Forbes, who represents Iowa House District 44, which covers most of Urbandale, was first elected in 2012 and has won re-election five times, according to the release. In two of those elections, he did not face an opponent.

He has served as an assistant minority leader; a ranking member of the Health and Human Services Budget Subcommittee; and a member of the Commerce, Ways and Means, Health and Human Services, and Transportation committees.

Before serving as a legislator, Forbes was on the Urbandale City Council and was the president of the Urbandale Chamber of Commerce. He currently serves on the Urbandale Public Library Foundation.

Forbes, a pharmacist, owned Medicap Pharmacy in Urbandale for more than 40 years until he and his wife, Cindy, sold the business in 2022.

The couple lives in Urbandale and have two children and three grandchildren.

Virginia Barreda is the Des Moines city government reporter for the Register. She can be reached at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter at @vbarreda2.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa Rep. John Forbes announces 2024 run for Polk County supervisor