Chris Cournoyer
Chris Cournoyer | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 48th Lieutenant Governor of Iowa | |
| Assumed office December 16, 2024 | |
| Governor | Kim Reynolds |
| Preceded by | Amy Sinclair (acting) |
| Member of the Iowa Senate | |
| In office January 14, 2019 – December 16, 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Rita Hart |
| Succeeded by | Mike Zimmer (elect) |
| Constituency | 49th district (2019–2023) 35th district (2023–2024) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | July 24, 1970 Dallas, Texas, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Children | 4 |
| Education | University of Texas, Austin (BA) |
Chris Gearhart Cournoyer (/ˈkərnɔɪər/ kur-NOIR[1]; born July 24, 1970) is an American politician who has served as the 48th lieutenant governor of Iowa since December 2024,[2] replacing Adam Gregg, who resigned from the role in September 2024.[3] A member of the Republican Party, Cournoyer previously served as an Iowa state senator from the 35th District from 2019 to 2024.[4]
Cournoyer has a background in computer science and website design, and has worked at a tech company.[5] She formerly served as the president of the Pleasant Valley Community School District School Board.[6]
Cournoyer has also served on several committees, including the Education Committee as vice chair, the Natural Resources and Environment Committee, the State Government Committee, and the Transportation Committee. She also served on the Economic Development Appropriations Subcommittee, the Early Childhood Iowa State Board, and the Research and Development School Advisory Council.[7]
Cournoyer was elected to the Iowa Senate in 2018. During her tenure, she held key leadership positions, including chairing the Education Budget Committee, where she oversaw the allocation of funds for Iowa's educational institutions. Additionally, she served as vice chair of the State Government Committee, playing a crucial role in shaping state government policies and procedures.
Controversies and Ethics Complaint
[edit]In December 2024, Scott County Sheriff Tim Lane filed an ethics complaint against Chris Cournoyer, alleging harassment, improper disclosure of confidential information, and misuse of such information for personal or political purposes. The complaint stemmed from Cournoyer’s alleged involvement in handling information related to the dismissal of a Scott County sergeant, Josh Wall, who had conducted an unauthorized investigation into Lane’s wife, Jennifer McAndrew, a supervisor for the Iowa Department of Corrections.
The complaint accused Cournoyer of accessing and disseminating confidential information provided by Wall before forwarding it to Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird. Lane claimed this violated ethical standards and potentially compromised the integrity of sheriff’s office disciplinary processes. The Scott County Civil Service Commission upheld Wall’s dismissal, citing procedural violations in his investigation of McAndrew.
Lane also alleged that Cournoyer introduced Senate File 2014 (later renamed Senate File 2277) during the 2024 legislative session in retaliation for Wall’s dismissal. The bill proposed requiring external oversight for investigations involving employees who are immediate family members of a county sheriff. While the bill failed to advance, Lane claimed it targeted his office without prior consultation.
In May 2024, Cournoyer published a letter in the Quad-City Times criticizing Lane’s leadership and endorsing his opponent, Chris Laye, in the Republican primary for Scott County sheriff. Lane alleged that Cournoyer was heavily involved in Laye’s campaign and that Wall served as Laye’s campaign manager and accountant.
Despite the Iowa Senate Ethics Committee rejecting Lane’s complaint on procedural grounds, Lane indicated plans to pursue the matter further, potentially through the Office of Ombudsman. The Iowa Law Enforcement Academy has also subpoenaed information related to Wall’s certification as a police officer.[8]
Electoral history
[edit]| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Chris Cournoyer | 13,305 | 54.9% | |||
| Democratic | Patti Robinson | 10,916 | 44.5% | |||
| Republican gain from Democratic | ||||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Chris Cournoyer | 14,552 | 60.0% | |
| Democratic | Jed O. V. Ganzer | 9,292 | 38.3% | |
| Republican hold | ||||
References
[edit]- ^ "State Sen. Chris Cournoyer takes oath of office as new Iowa lieutenant governor" (video). youtube.com. KCCI-TV. December 16, 2024.
- ^ Opsahl, Robin (2024-12-16). "Sen. Chris Cournoyer appointed Iowa lieutenant governor • Iowa Capital Dispatch". Iowa Capital Dispatch. Retrieved 2024-12-17.
- ^ "Gov. Reynolds announces Chris Cournoyer as pick for lieutenant governor Monday morning". weareiowa.com. 2024-12-16. Retrieved 2024-12-17.
- ^ Agency, Iowa Legislative Services. "State Senator". www.legis.iowa.gov. Archived from the original on 2024-10-07. Retrieved 2024-12-17.
- ^ Fingerhut, Hannah. "Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds appoints state Sen. Chris Cournoyer as her new lieutenant governor". ABC News. Retrieved 2024-12-17.
- ^ mvalley@qctimes.com, Megan Valley (2018-12-17). "'It's bittersweet': Pleasant Valley school board president prepares for new role in state Senate". The Quad-City Times. Retrieved 2024-12-17.
- ^ "State Senator". www.legis.iowa.gov. Retrieved 2020-02-03.
- ^ https://www.iowapublicradio.org/ipr-news/2025-01-03/sheriff-vows-to-pursue-ethics-complaint-against-lieutenant-governor
- ^ "Canvass State" (PDF). Iowa Secretary of State. December 3, 2018. p. 88. Retrieved February 1, 2020.
- ^ "Official Canvass by County" (PDF). Iowa Secretary of State. December 5, 2022. p. 96. Retrieved January 29, 2020.
Statewide political officials of Iowa | ||
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