Iowa Governor Terry Branstad has appointed former Congressman Leonard Boswell to the state transportation commission. The governor announced he appointed Boswell to fill out the term of Tom Rielly, who resigned from the commission due to a business related conflict of interest. Boswell served in Congress from 1997 to 2013 and prior to that was a state legislator and a decorated veteran of the Army who served in Vietnam.

Boswell is a Democrat who has worked with the Republican governor recently on the initiative to recruit veterans to come and live in Iowa when they leave the military. Boswell’s appointment must be confirmed by the Iowa Senate and the term runs through April of 2017. The seven-member commission set transportation policy and state law requires the commission be balanced by gender and party affiliation.

(Radio Iowa)