Polk County Republican Leadership

Chair: Kevin McLaughlin

Kevin McLaughlin is a life-long Des Moines resident, educated initially at St. Augustin grade school and then Roosevelt High School. His education included a year in Rome where he studied under a professor who served as an advisor to Pope Paul IV on Middle Eastern affairs and history. Kevin’s formal education was completed in Denver at Regis University with a major in history and minor in philosophy.

Kevin has over 30 years of experience in the investment industry and is a broker to individuals and corporations on their investment assets and retirement plans.

Kevin’s political involvement began in the 1970s, and includes having served as Chairman of Polk County for Steve Forbes in 1996 and as Vice Chair for the Forbes Campaign in 2000.

In 2003, Kevin and his wife, BJ, started Iowans for Discounted Taxes with Steve Forbes as Honorary Chairman. Their group of six volunteers has worked tirelessly to push money back into everyone’s hands to create jobs and grow the economy. Kevin has also served on the Pastoral Council and taught CCD at St. Augustin Church and is a founder and past President of the Rotary Club of Des Moines A.M.

Kevin and his wife, BJ, have two boys, JJ and Jack, with another child on the way. They are still Des Moines residents and predict that 2012 will be the year of the elephant with another round of victories for conservative candidates to benefit everyone and grow our economy with new jobs!

Co-Chair: Dave Funk

Known as Captain Dave by many, his aviation and air-show career spanned over thirty one years. This includes having flown over one hundred different types of airplanes and helicopters. Dave served nearly ten years as an attack helicopter pilot for the Iowa Army National Guard and most recently, as an International Captain on the Boeing 757 for Northwest Airlines. His flying career ended prematurely due to a work related neck injury.

Dave currently works as a consultant with Laird & Associates an Aviation Security and Operations consulting firm and he is also the current President of the Iowa Chapter of Safari Club International, the world’s leading Hunters Rights and Conservation group. Dave recently served as Co-chair of Iowa Sportsmen for McCain-Palin and has been active in conservative political circles for most of his adult life.

Dave and his wife Sheila, a counselor at the DMACC Ankeny Campus, and their family live on a small acreage outside of Runnells, Iowa. He volunteers as a Reserve Police Officer with the Pleasant Hill Police Department.