Certain races in Washington County will be taking place such as District 3 (Riverside, Ainsworth, Crawfordsville, Brighton and Coppock), District 5 (Ward 2 and 3 in Washington), and the state representative for District 92 (Washington and parts of Johnson County).

We asked each candidate running a series of questions, down below.

1. Why are you running or running for reelection?

2. What are the top issues facing your area?

3. If elected, what are your priories?

District 3 Washington County Board of Supervisors Q & A`s

(Riverside, Ainsworth, Crawfordville, Brighton and Coppock)

Marcus Fedler: Running reelection for District 3 Supervisor (R) 

Age: 55

Family: Wife, Heather; Children Garrett, Greyson.

Past Offices: District 3 Supervisor since 2021

Major accomplishments:

I’m an Eagle Scout, 1994 ISU grad with BS in Construction Engineering, I married my high school sweet heart in 1994, we’ve raised two fine young men, I have a personal relationship with my Lord and savior Jesus Christ and own and operate a small business in Washington county for 23 years surviving the 2008 depression and 2020.

The News: Why are you running for reelection as District 3 supervisor? 

I’m running for office to represent the people in Washington county. The supervisor position has a statutory requirement to monitor and authorize tax asking and spending.  My conservative values and leadership experience gives me a unique insight to successfully accomplish that requirement. I choose to be part of the solution and have a willing spirit to work with others to address whatever issue needs to be addressed.

The News: What are the top issues facing Washington County

Washington county is uniquely positioned roughly ranking at 27th in population and valuation to have enough funding to adequately address the needs of state regulated requirements and have flexibility to also address the wants of our population. In 6 years, I have helped facilitate a much needed IT department addressing all IT needs across the entire county in all departments, established a much needed HR department to facilitate employee evaluations to give department heads and other elected tools to better serve county employees, and started the process of infrastructure management through building and grounds. None of which has increased spending. I would like to continue this process of top level system management freeing up time and resources so that department heads and other elected can focus on delivering their services more efficiently and find ways to reduce spending.

The News: If reelected, What are your top priorities?

I would like to continue the process of reducing spending where possible and refining our services to state mandated levels.

JoAnn Whitmore: Running for District 3 Supervisor (D)

Age: 69

Family: My Mom grew up on a family farm in Floyd County, Iowa. My dad's dad grew up in Chariton and while I wasn't raised in Iowa, I got here as soon as I could.

Residence: Riverside, Iowa.

Past Offices:  First run for office

Major Accomplishments:

I'm happily retired from my business career and have plenty of free time to dedicate to public service as a member of the Washington County Board of Supervisors.

The News: Why are you running for office?

I’m running because I believe Washington County benefits when different life experiences and perspectives are represented around the table. I think a little healthy competition for our current Supervisors is good for the county and that better decisions come from hearing those different perspectives. I believe that government works better when both parties work together on governing, and also that voters deserve a choice at the polls in November. Recent races around the country indicate that voters are looking for change in who represents them and when I’ve been knocking on doors I’m hearing my neighbors saying the same thing. I’m excited to be in this race. Across our community, and really all of Iowa, people are hungry for a change. I’m running to be that change and would be honored to have people’s support. 

I have a Business Degree, a lot of experience as a computer programmer and also as a Business Analyst.  This job required me to be the interpreter between the business users of the programs and the programmers who were actually writing the code.  I’ve developed the skill of understanding these two very different groups and their needs, which is a very necessary ability in the role of County Supervisor when overseeing various county departments, boards and commissions.  I worked in insurance as well which gave me a risk management background, again a great skill for looking out for our county’s best interests.

The News: What are the top issues facing Washington County:

Washington County is somewhat unique in that its population is growing steadily unlike ⅔ of Iowa counties. Careful development is essential to keep our population strong but when big companies build massive power plants and data centers here, they can bring constant loud noise, bright lights, and heavy traffic right next to your home. Because our county has no zoning rules, a giant industrial site can be built directly beside a peaceful family farm with no warnings or local hearings.  Many data center developers have used Non-disclosure agreements signed by local officials to make sure that these decisions are NOT made out in the open with public input. This means our community loses its quiet rural life and its control over what our neighborhoods look like.  It is crucial to maintain your freedom to use your own property as you see fit while protecting you from development in your neighborhood without you being informed and having input.  We need a Data Center ordinance and this will be a top priority of mine, modeling it on successful versions implemented by other Iowa counties.

Iowa Senate File 2472 passed this last May limits many County tax levy increases to only 2% regardless of things like the rate of inflation.  This will be a big challenge to our County in determining how we maintain the services and programs that residents depend upon. It is crucial that we examine budgets and priorities well ahead of time so we can plan for the most efficient use of resources in the short-term and in the long-term.

The News: If elected, what are your top priorities:

Make decision-making more accessible and transparent for the public. Currently, meetings are on Tuesday mornings at 9 a.m. and thus inaccessible to most working residents. Zoom sessions at 9 a.m. don’t really address the problem of access very well, the sound quality is spotty but more importantly no public input is currently allowed over Zoom and no meeting recordings are available to the public at all.  County government belongs to everyone, not just to those who can attend a Tuesday morning meeting.  The technology is already in place; we just need to make the decision that this access matters.

Expand public access to their representatives. Set up meeting times outside the normal 9-5 business hours where I solicit input from constituents and be proactive in meeting people where they are to ask them their concerns.

Draft, debate and pass a Data Center Ordinance.

District 5 Washington County Board of Supervisors Q & A`s

District 5 (Ward 2 and 3 in Washington)

Lynette Iles: Running for District 5 Supervisor (D)

Age: 62

Family: Husband, Paul Towner; children, Ruth, Morgan. 

Current residence: Washington

Past offices:

YWCA president for two years; local RVAP/DVIP support group leader; medical director of Halcyon House; public health medical director; medical director of Hospice of Washington County for 14 years.

Major accomplishments:

I grew up in Independence, Missouri in a working class family, devouring library and medical books, hiking, collecting rocks and active in church & youth groups. I attended a combined medical program in Kansas City, Missouri, and graduated with both my BA and MD at 23. I moved to LaCrosse, Wisconsin to complete the Mayo Family Practice Residency there, then moved to Wausau WI for a year while my future husband, Paul Towner, MD, finished his residency. I worked ER and fill-in clinic work for that year. The summer after Paul finished residency and we married, we moved to Grand Forks Air Force Base, where we lived for three years (and six winters). While Paul paid back his time commitment to the Air Force, I worked in town, having a very busy practice which developed a focus on obstetrics, pediatrics, psychiatry and chemical dependency treatment. After Paul’s three year commitment, we wanted to move closer to family and to settle in a rural community where our physician skills were actually needed. After a very thought-filled process, we chose Washington, moving here the summer of 1994. Before children, I was the YWCA president for two years, including the year of merger with the YMCA, the local RVAP/DVIP support group leader for a few years, and helped with Habitat for Humanity fundraising. I was also the Medical Director of Halcyon House as well as the Public Health Medical Director for a few years. Then we had two children. Those were busy days. They are now grown and off writing their own life stories. More recently, I was the Medical Director for Hospice of Washington County for 14 years. I was a partner of Family Practice of Washington for 12 years, then left and established a private practice Flexible Family Care, which was open for 17 more years. During my career, I helped over 11,00 babies take their first breath and was privileged to be welcomed into countless families as well. A true gift, I will never be able to repay. After my retirement, I have continued to help people medically advocate for themselves, as well as being advisor, transportation, and companion for others. I co-founded an Indivisible group in Washington County as a non-partisan spot to advocate for a government of, by, and for the people. At 62, I hope to be able to continue serving the county of Washington for many years to come.

The News: Why are you running for District 5 Supervisor?

I am Dr. Lynette Iles and I am running to be District 5’s County Supervisor for several reasons. First is that I bring a deep understanding of healthcare systems that will be invaluable over the next few years as both county and state financing and systems change.

Second, I have decades of experience anticipating potential problems and roadblocks, gathering information about solutions before the problem evolves, and solving the issue before it even appears.

Third, I am an active listener, willing to take advise and glean information from many sources. It takes many to make a community. Lastly, It takes work to make a fair governance. I have the time and willingness to put in that time, and internal drive for fairness. This is my home. You are my people. We all deserve nothing less.

The News: What are the top issues facing Washington County?

I believe that the next few years in the county, we are facing doing more with less. Unfunded mandates, changing public health funding and focuses, increased needs in HACAP and general assistance, increased fuel costs, decreased state financial support and limitations on property tax increases. We must become even more creative with our money, co coordinating with our rural neighboring counties, using programs to meet more than one need. Doing things such as trading grass for prairie grass that increases farmers yields and saves on mowing costs of labor, gas, and maintenance. Ask the department heads what they need specifically and what they don’t. Making sure that each department understands that ‘their’ budget is still the people’s money. Also, a HUGE issue is that our county is a sitting duck for a data center placement, because we have no zoning laws preventing one in the unincorporated portions. This will be one of my first priorities, to address.

The News: If elected, what are your top priorities?

At the same time as making sure that the government is actually addressing the issues at hand, I believe that people need to be able to understand and see this happening. My own personal priorities, other than to help make the county work for the people, is to improve the access to and transparency of the government. I plan on having office hours in the evening as well as the requisite morning ones at the Supervisor Building. I am also open to having evening hours in other districts if requested. I already have a Facebook page (Lynette Iles for Supervisor D5) where I summarize each Board meeting and add my thoughts. I will push for each Supervisor to have a blog attached to the BOS website to increase engagement and as a way to show how many hours we are actually working for you.  I plan on working a minimum of 25-30 hours a week for the people. I believe that the public shouldn’t be limited to speaking to topics on the BOS weekly meeting agenda, but the public speaking time should be limited to 30 min total, 3 min each. If you are on Zoom, you should be allowed to speak during the public speaking time for your three minutes. Consideration should be made to move the BOS meetings to evenings at least once a month.

Brendan DeLong: Running for District 5 (R)

Age: 37

Family: Wife, Deana: Children, Maxton, Deacon.

Current residence: Washington, Iowa

Occupation: Project manager for DeLong Construction

Past Offices held: The Washington Fire chief since 2021. Prior to becoming Chief, he was the Assistant Fire Chief for three years. He served on the Washington City Council for five years, including two years as Mayor Pro Tem.

Major accomplishments:

I graduated from Washington High School in 2007. I have held the position of project manager at DeLong Construction for 16 years. During that time, I have gained extensive experience managing large-scale construction projects throughout Southeast Iowa.

Through these experiences, I have gained a great deal of experience in government, project management, budgeting, and working with people from all different backgrounds. Most importantly, I understand what it means to be accountable to the citizens you serve.

One accomplishment I am particularly proud of is the implementation of the medical first response program for the Washington Fire Department in 2021. When I became Fire Chief, we developed and implemented a first-response service for medical calls in Washington. Prior to that, there was no medical first-response service in the city, and we relied solely on the transporting ambulance service. I am very proud of the group of volunteers we have built, who now respond to approximately 900 medical calls each year throughout our fire district.

The News: Why are you running for District 5 Supervisor?

I am running for County Supervisor because I believe I have the experience and background to serve effectively in this position. With Richard retiring, I believe now is the right time for me to step in and put my experience to work for Washington County.

I also want to see Washington County thrive and remain a great place for future generations. I have two kids, and I want them to want to live here someday. That means making sure Washington County remains a place where families can afford to live, work, raise a family, and build a future.

The News: What are the top issues facing Washington County?

Accountability. I believe we can do a much better job of being transparent with our residents, and I plan to make that a priority.

Affordability is another major concern. Taxes and property valuations continue to rise, and I constantly hear from people who are struggling with their tax bills. I also hear concerns from people asking why anyone would want to build or invest here when they are faced with a large tax bill. I understand that some of this is outside the county's direct control, particularly when it comes to property valuations, but I believe we need to take a hard look at how we operate, find ways to be more efficient, and eliminate unnecessary spending and waste.

Protecting our land is also an issue. I want our farmers to know that I will support them and work to protect the value and productivity of their land. This issue has received a lot of attention recently, and I will work hard to make sure Washington County remains a place where agriculture can continue to thrive.

The News: If elected, what are your top priorities:

Building trust with both the Board of Supervisors and the residents of Washington County. That means being accountable, being available, and communicating openly with the people we represent. I also believe we need to trust the expertise of our staff and advisory boards when they bring options and recommendations forward. These are the people who work in these areas every day, and we should listen to their experience and expertise when making decisions.

Another priority will be our EMS system. I want to make sure Washington County has strong representation on boards where it needs it and that we have a clear plan for improving and strengthening our EMS system going forward. We need to make sure our communities have reliable emergency medical services while also looking at the long-term sustainability of the system. That means listening to the people who provide these services, working together, and making sure the county is prepared to meet the needs of our residents in the future.

Lastly, long term planning & efficiency. I believe in being proactive rather than reactive and taking a long-term approach to county government. In construction and in the fire service, I have learned that putting off a problem usually makes it more expensive and more difficult to fix. I believe the same applies to county government. We need to identify problems early, plan ahead, and make decisions based not only on what is best today, but what will put the county in a better position five, ten, or twenty years from now. Good long-term planning can also help keep costs under control by allowing us to prepare for major expenses instead of reacting to them when they become emergencies. Ultimately, I want to make decisions that keep Washington County financially strong and affordable for the people who live here.

District 92 State Representative Q & A`s

(Washington and parts of Johnson County)

Heather Hora: Running for reelection as State representative (R)

Age: 56

Family: Husband, Kurt; Children, Presley, Elizabeth, John.

Current residence: Washington

Past Office: Elected as State Representative for District 92 in 2022

Major accomplishments:

My husband Kurt and I are 5th generation Washington County farmers. We have three teenagers, Presley, Elizabeth & John. My strong Christian faith, family values, and agricultural roots are the foundation of my commitment to serving others. Since being elected to the Iowa House in 2022, I have brought a common sense, hardworking approach to representing the people of District 92. I now serve as Assistant Majority Leader, elected by my caucus, I have focused on strengthening education, supporting agriculture and our freedom to farm, protecting landowners' rights, improving rural healthcare, and protecting Iowa's taxpayers. Guided by my faith and my deep commitment to my community, I work to preserve the values and opportunities that make rural Iowa a great place to live, work & raise a family. 

The News: Why am you running for reelection?

As a wife, mother of three, farmer and your State Representative, I understand the values that make rural Iowa special - hard work, faith, family and community. I am running for reelection because I believe our small towns and rural communities deserve a strong voice at the State Capitol. Over the past four years I have worked to support our farmers and small businesses, strengthen rural healthcare, expand educational opportunities, and protect the freedoms and values we hold dear. There is still more work to be done, especially when it comes to lowering the cost of living, keeping our communities thriving, and ensuring the next generation has the opportunity to build a future right here in Iowa. I am proud to represent House District 92, and I would be honored to continue serving as your voice in Des Moines. My commitment remains simple: listen to the people I represent, stand up for rural Iowa, and work hard to deliver results. 

The News: What are the top issues facing district 92?

Iowa House District 92 faces important challenges that directly affect the lives of hardworking families and the future of our rural communities. Rising property taxes and everyday expenses are putting pressure on household budgets, while our schools, family farms, and small businesses need continued support to remain strong. Access to quality healthcare, concerns about Iowa's high cancer rates, and protecting our water quality are all issues that deserve serious attention. Addressing these challenges requires common-sense solutions, responsible use of taxpayer dollars, and a commitment to preserving the values and opportunities that make our communities great places to live, work, and raise a family. 

The News: If reelected what are your top priorities?

If reelected, my priorities will be to continue to work to lower taxes, control government spending, eliminating fraud, strengthening rural schools, and supporting family farms and small businesses. I will continue advocating for research into the causes of Iowa's high cancer rates, support further funding for childhood cancer research, protecting our water quality at the source, and improving access to healthcare.  Above all, I will uphold the Constitution, protect individual freedoms, protect landowner rights, and work to ensure government remains accountable to the people it serves. My focus will be on common-sense solutions that strengthen our communities and preserve our way of life for future generations. 

Brittany Erickson: Running for State Representative (D)

Age: 34 

Family:

I live with my spouse and 8 year old daughter

Current residence: Washington

Occupation: Owner of Erickson Cab Company

Past Offices: First run for office

Major accomplishments:  

I am proud of started when I was a young top student and became an active part of my family’s farm. I am proud of the entrepreneurship of picking and selling sweet corn alone, as a teen and young adult, out of my truck. Later on in college I accomplished holding many different positions while continuing my education and teaching others.

I am proud of past managerial positions in sales, manufacturing, and healthcare. In college I became a tutor in English, Math, and Science.

I am proud of graduating from Kirkwood, attending the University of Iowa Creative Writing Program, having my writing on display in local libraries and at exhibits in other countries of North America, working in inpatient pharmacy at the University of Iowa for years immediately after completing my pharmacy tech diploma, and earning professional licenses in life, health, property, and casualty insurance.

I am continuing my self-education in subjects such as technology, mechanics, language, and art.

My most recent accomplishment is serving SE Iowa and my community by creating a new transportation option that can operate 24/7. 

The News: Why are you running for State representative?

I am running for State Representative because I have lived within this district all of my life and I know we can do better. I know the issues and causes of the problems that our area faces, and I know how to fix those problems. I want to implement solutions that will benefit everyone.

The News: What are the top issue facing District 92? 

The top issues facing District 92 include healthcare problems, water quality, and finances. These three topics are also state-wide issues. The healthcare issues voters are talking about include prices, denials, travel to facilities, and lack of mental health services. Water quality is an obvious issue at Lake Darling and in our homes. Finances can mean anything from high prices, low wages, food cost, gas/diesel, or rising insurance. Most Iowans are feeling a financial squeeze right now.

The News: If elected, what are your top priorities?

If elected, my top priority is making Iowa feel like home for everyone. This touches on subjects from childcare to retirement and everything in between like food, clean water, affordable housing, healthcare, education, local job opportunities and addressing the high cancer rate. People near my age have been leaving Iowa due to all of these subjects for many years. It’s time that we face why more people are moving out than moving in. An estimated 60% of college grads will choose to move out of state this year. We need their expertise and knowledge to keep Iowa great. To reverse this trend and keep Iowa graduates here, we must restore Iowa to become a place where the American Dream is once again within reach.