IOWA CITY

The November election is almost a non-election in Johnson County.

For county offices only.

When early voting began last week in Iowa City, long lines appeared on opening day.

The Presidential election, putting current Vice President Kamala Harris against former President Donald Trump, has shown clear signs of a battle that may produce record voting numbers.

But in blue Johnson County? Three supervisor candidates, an auditor nominee and a current sheriff will run unopposed. All are Democrats.

No Republicans entered the Primary election last June.

Still, the issues are hot.

Lisa Green-Douglass, who has been a county supervisor since 2016 and won one of three spots in June’s primary, quickly points to the Johnson County Jail, an overcrowded and aging facility that is falling apart so much that a structural monitoring system is now in place.

“The building is outdated,” Green-Douglass told The News. “There are structural issues with it. Johnson County needs a jail facility that can house more than the current jail. It needs space for attorneys to meet with their clients. It needs space for inmate mobility. It needs space for correctional interventions to take place.”

A recent News story illustrated crumbling walls and water leaks in ceilings.

“The people who work in the Sheriff’s Office need and deserve a safe workplace,” she said. “They should be able to expect their desks and work spaces to be dry rather than dealing with the leak of the week. I fully support a new Sheriff’s Office and Jail. As with bond issues, it will be necessary to get 60% of the people to vote yes. I am willing to facilitate educational sessions and input sessions for the public to get us to that 60%.”

“We need a new one, and we need it soon,” longtime Supervisor Rod Sullivan told The News.

“It’s important to recognize that approving a new jail ultimately rests with the voters, and previous proposals have been rejected three times,” said Mandi Remington, who is seeking her first term on the Board. “I would support a more modest, fiscally responsible proposal than has been presented – one that meets state code, ensures safety and is likely to be approved by our community. Time is of the essence and we need to move forward with a plan that voters can support sooner rather than later.”

Joining Green-Douglass in the unopposed election for three four-year supervisor terms are Sullivan, the 2024 chair, and Remington, who defeated current Supervisor Royceann Porter in the Primary election.

All three have pointed to affordable housing as another leading issue.

“First and foremost, we need more affordable housing stock,” Green-Douglass said. “For a variety of reasons, though, it makes most sense for that housing to be within the municipalities rather than in unincorporated Johnson County. We have recently purchased apartment buildings in Iowa City, with two-bedroom units, to begin to address affordable housing for families needing more space. As we invest in getting these units in good repair, we are also working with our Social Services Department to figure out what criteria to establish for residential eligibility and who will manage the properties.”

The county is also looking at building residences at the Johnson County Historic Poor Farm, Green-Douglass said.

“I will advocate for incentivizing developers and landlords to provide long-term affordable housing and accept rental vouchers,” Remington told The News. “I also support initiatives that stagger lease terms to help prevent residents from experiencing gaps between one lease ending and the next beginning. Additionally, tenants should have the right to organize without fear of retaliation, which is especially crucial in markets where ownership is increasingly consolidated.”

In addition to three county supervisors, the sheriff and auditor positions are also on the ballot.

Brad Kunkel, of Solon, is running unopposed for re-election as sheriff.

Julie Persons, the mayor of Swisher, is the unopposed nominee for auditor. Persons, a Democrat, replaces former auditor Travis Weipert, who won the Primary election but resigned from his job, and the election, over the summer due to health reasons.

Two other Johnson County Supervisors, Jon Green of Lone Tree and V Fixmer-Oraiz, are not up for election this year because they are in the midst of four-year terms.

Election information can be found online at: johnsoncountyiowa.gov/auditor/elections.

Here is a look at the candidates:

BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

Lisa Green-Douglass

Residence: Madison Township, rural North Liberty

Family: 1 daughter, 4 sons

Current position: Johnson County Supervisor

Past offices held: Johnson County Supervisor since 2016, past Chair

Number of years as Democrat: Since registering to vote at age 18

Biggest issues facing Johnson County: Replacing the Sheriff’s Office and Jail with a new one; increasing affordable housing options; obligating and spending all of the $29.3 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA funds).

ARPA: “At the end of this calendar year, we have to have all of our ARPA money obligated. To be considered obligated, we must have a contract in place or an invoice waiting to be paid. We are on track for all $29 million to be spent, so we shouldn’t have to give any of it back (to the federal government). We will be transitioning some ARPA jobs and programs to a permanent status while others will be phased out. We will be in a state of flux with some of this, and yet the work of county government must go on.”

Mandi Remington

Residence: Iowa City

Family: three children, ages 20, 16, 7.

Current position: Medical records specialist, University of Iowa Healthcare Center for Disabilities and Development

Past offices held: Iowa City Community Police Review Board

Number of years as Democrat: 21

Biggest issues facing Johnson County: “The biggest issue facing Johnson County is ensuring residents have access to basic needs, including affordable housing, food, transportation and mental health care. These are foundational elements of a stable and thriving community that far too many are living without.”

Rod Sullivan

Residence: Iowa City

Family: Wife, Dr. Melissa Faith, a cancer researcher at the University of Iowa; three adult children; one grandchild; more than 50 foster children and three foster grandchildren.

Current position: Johnson County Supervisor Chair

Past offices held: Johnson County Supervisor

Number of years as Democrat: Lifelong

Biggest issues facing Johnson County: Affordable housing, mental health, climate crises.

SHERIFF

Brad Kunkel

Residence: Solon

Current position: Johnson County Sheriff

Political Party: Democrat

AUDITOR

Julie Persons

Residence: Swisher

Current position: Mayor of Swisher

Political Party: Democrat

Nomination: Persons won the Democrat spot on the ballot in a nominating process at an August meeting of the Johnson County Democratic Party; former Auditor Travis Weipert, who won a primary election in June, withdrew due to health reasons.