Frank Cownie

Thomas Michael Franklin "Frank" Cownie (born March 13, 1948)[1] is an American politician who served as mayor of Des Moines, Iowa from 2004 to 2024.

He grew up on the city's west side, attending Theodore Roosevelt High School and Iowa State University.

Cownie served several terms on the Planning and Zoning Commission and was chairman of Downtown Des Moines, Inc.

He succeeded fellow Democrat Preston Daniels, who was the first African American mayor of Des Moines.

On September 21, 2023, Cownie announced he would not be seeking a sixth term, effectively ending his 20-year tenure as mayor.