Conor Brown, 29

By Paul Anthony Arco

Conor Brown's love for political affairs started in the fourth grade when he voted for Michael Dukakis for president during his school's election. When he was 12, Brown preferred sitting at his grandmother's kitchen table talking policy with older members of his family to playing outdoors. "I've always been interested in politics," he says.

These days, Brown, 29, is the government affairs director for the Rockford Area Association of Realtors. His job entails studying local, municipal and county issues including real estate, property rights and affordability concerns. "There are a variety of topics that impact real estate," he says. "There isn't a voice for property rights. We do it as part of a watchdog group that we hold sacred at the association."

Brown enjoys the variety his job offers such as building coalitions, working towards goals and meeting new people. "I work with the media, farmers, school districts and elected officials," he says. 'No two days are the same."

For four years, Brown worked as a senior legislative assistant for Congressman Don Manzullo in Washington, D.C. A graduate of Boylan High School, Brown came back home and joined the Rockford Chamber of Commerce as manager of government affairs before moving on to RAAR.

Brown also serves on the steering committee of the Rockford-Winnebago County Better Road Association and is a representative of the Chicago Metropolitan Agency on Planning's (CMAP) Regional Water Supply Planning Group.

When he's not busy working, Brown enjoys spending time with his wife Susie and daughters Leigha, 4, and Kiera, 2. And he enjoys watching Notre Dame football. "I can get a little passionate at times," he says, laughing. Just like when it comes to politics.