Angela Connolly, a member of the Polk County Board of Supervisors, is a native Iowan, born to second-generation Italian immigrants. Her parents owned a small Italian restaurant, where Connolly has said she learned the value of hard work.

Connolly attended Kansas University after high school to study liberal arts. She returned to Iowa to marry her husband, Tom, in 1974 and together they have three children and four grandchildren. She began her career in the Polk County Public Works Department as a zoning enforcement officer where she worked for nearly 20 years. She was first elected as a Polk County supervisor in 1998. Angela is one of only three female supervisors in Polk County in more than 150 years. She represents the 2nd District, which includes the northwestern area of the city of Des Moines, a portion of unincorporated Polk County, and the suburb of West Des Moines.

Community engagement has always been a priority for Connolly, and she enjoys participating regularly in neighborhood organizations and civic activities. She serves on several boards and commissions and also has played a leadership role in many significant far-reaching efforts that have improved life for Polk County residents and strengthened the communities and economy of Central Iowa.

For example, she is an advocate for Iowa residents facing mental illness and is a leader in enhancing crisis services in the community. She championed a centralized intake system for over 20 homeless outreach providers and encourages regional collaboration for increasing affordable housing. Connolly also advocates for Polk County Crisis and Advocacy Services for victims of crime, the majority of whom are women; and she leads efforts to increase linguistic and culturally appropriate basic human services for refugee families.

 

• Grace Amemiya