IOWA CITY

Pat Heiden, a Johnson County Supervisor, was nearly in tears during the board’s work session Dec. 28.

It was on that day, last Wednesday, when the emotional testimonials began to roll in for the retiring one-term supervisor.

“I’m still kind of mad at you,” Supervisor Lisa Green-Douglass joked during the end of the session, “that you’re not going to continue on because I have greatly enjoyed working with you and I’ve appreciated you. Your calm approach to things.”

“I think you are special, you are a wonderful person,” said Supervisor and 2022 Chair Royceann Porter. “You are just somebody who you can go to and talk to and listen.”

Heiden, who was elected to the board in 2018 after serving as executive director of Oaknoll Retirement Center in Iowa City, chose not to run for re-election this past November.

Changes to the board were clearly visible last week. One day after Heiden said her goodbye in the board’s formal session Dec. 29, former Lone Tree Mayor Jon Green and V Fixmer-Oraiz were sworn in as supervisors in a boardroom ceremony. Their four-year terms began Jan. 1. Green and Fixmer-Oraiz, both Democrats, won supervisor spots in the November election, defeating Republicans Jammie Bradshaw of Lone Tree and Phil Hemingway of rural Johnson County.

Green is actually beginning a second term since he won a special election in 2021 to fill out a partial term.

“I’m looking forward to a full four-year term and am grateful for the confidence county residents have placed in me,” Green told the News. “While I’m excited for the future, I’m also clear-eyed about the volatile economic situation and we supervisors will need to closely monitor what the Iowa Legislature does with property taxes. I expect that, from an economic perspective, the next two years will be difficult, but we’re well-positioned to weather challenges thanks to years of responsible financial management and substantial cash reserves.”

Fixmer-Oraiz joined the board for the first time Tuesday for its annual organization meeting in which Green-Douglass was appointed chair for 2023 and longtime supervisor Rod Sullivan was appointed vice chair.

"I am very excited to be starting out my new term as Johnson County Supervisor," Fixmer-Oraiz told The News. "Having worked with many county departments and staff prior to this role, I am hitting the ground running. There is a lot of work to do and the budget season is a good time to get to know each department on a deeper level. We are so fortunate to have such hard working and passionate county staff, and it has been a joy getting to know more people and their roles every day."

As the final days of 2022 ticked down, Heiden was clearly the center of attention. Johnson County Sheriff Brad Kunkel, Auditor Travis Weipert and Recorder Kim Painter were among those lining up to shower Heiden with praise at the Dec. 29 formal session.

“I am a better elected official because of you,” Kunkel said, “because you treat people … with respect, class and empathy. Always. That is something I will take with me for the rest of my career.”

“You never really did just sit back,” Painter said. “You were willing to support people early in phases of a campaign and in other situations and to take some tough stands when they needed to be taken. I really respect that and that, too, adds tremendously to your legacy and your value here on the board.”

In her closing comments, Heiden said: “I learned that county government moves slowly, which can be so frustrating, but it does guarantee transparency and acknowledges the importance of public comment, input and participation. For the people, by the people.

“What I do hope is when people look back on my four years on this Board of Supervisors, I will be remembered as a supervisor who urged and practiced stability, respect and open honest conversation every day. I know that must seem like such a small contribution, but I absolutely believe that is the foundation for which great things can happen.”

Among those joining Heiden as retirees are Janet Lyness, county attorney, and Tom Kriz, county treasurer.