Tama County man to lead Iowa Transportation Commission

CEDAR RAPIDS - John Putney of Gladbrook, a farmer and former state lawmaker, has been elected chairman of the Iowa Transportation Commission.

Putney, 73, was elected by the members of the commission at their meeting Tuesday. He was appointed in 2014 and his term expires in April 2018.

While a member of the Senate from 2003 to 2009, Putney was the ranking Republican on the Transportation Committee and the Transportation, Infrastructure and Capitals Appropriations Subcommittee.

Putney also served as executive director of the Iowa State Fair Blue Ribbon Foundation from its inception in 1993 until his retirement in 2014. In this role, he spearheaded the efforts to renovate and preserve the historic Iowa State Fairgrounds.

A Gladbrook native, he attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and graduated from Iowa State University. He was an officer in the Iowa National Guard. Putney operated a grain and livestock operation in Tama County for 23 years and from 1989 to 1993 was a special assistant to Sen. Chuck Grassley.

He and his wife of 47 years, Emily, reside on their farm near Gladbrook and raise registered Angus cattle. They have three children.

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