Editor:

If you paid any attention to the recent election, you know that one candidate ran on the idea that rural voters are “unrepresented.” Obviously, many rural voters agreed; rural precincts voted for the losing candidate at a 72 percent clip. 

This is personally troubling to me on two levels:

First, I grew up in the country on a gravel road. We had a party line phone. Rather than buy eggs, we gathered them from a cousin’s hens. Though we didn’t use them, our house had an outhouse, a summer kitchen, a cistern, and a root cellar. Both sides of my mom’s family have Heritage Farms – 150 years in the same family.

As a young person, I did just about every type of farm work. I baled hay, walked beans, hayed horses, picked sweet corn, detasseled corn, moved cattle, loaded hogs and picked apples, just to name a few.

I know a thing or two about growing up rural.

Secondly, I am proud of the things we have accomplished during my time on the Board of Supervisors. I find it really sad that so many rural residents would think I would be unwilling to listen to them. I get very few calls, really.

Look – I cannot address your concerns if I don’t know what they are. If you have a question or concern, please call me. I can be reached at rsullivan@co.johnson.ia.us, or by phone at 319-356-6000 or 319-354-7199.

Rod Sullivan

Johnson County Board of Supervisors