3 Republicans want to take on incumbent Democratic Linn County supervisor

CEDAR RAPIDS - A caregiver, a repair shop owner and a county elections employee are vying in Tuesday's Republican primary for the chance to face incumbent Democrat Ben Rogers for the Linn County Board of Supervisors District 3 seat.

Either Delma Clarke, Tim Gull or Edwin Valladares will go up against the eight-year incumbent in November.

The District 3 seat they hope to occupy represents much of the northern part of Cedar Rapids.

Clarke, a caregiver from Cedar Rapids, said an issue she would fight for is reforming government assistance, which in Iowa includes such things as food assistance and support for children.

'I would like to start weaning some people off welfare,” she said. 'The way the system is set up now it is almost impossible for them to get off it. I realize there are some people who will never be off it. I would just like to see more people get a chance.”

Clarke said she put her name on the ballot because of the lack names on it, the paycheck and her candor.

'There are obviously things I would like to change, but what really got me started running for it is when I found out there wasn't a lot of competition and that it paid pretty well,” she said. 'I think it is fairly obvious, I'm going to be more honest than a lot of people are - that's the most important thing.”

Clarke was born in Australia and moved the United States at an early age. She has lived in Cedar Rapids for 14 years.

Gull graduated from the University of Northern Iowa and served 21 years in the U.S. Army and Army National Guard. He has owned Metro Transmission and Auto Repair for the last 24 years.

'I feel like I got a more common-sense approach,” Gull said. 'I think my combination and background of having served in the military, being a business owner and having to make a payroll puts me in a unique position.”

He said he would push for the completion of Tower Terrace Road, which would create jobs, he said.

And he has made a point of wanting to pare down the number of supervisors from five to three.

Supervisors are each paid about $135,000, plus benefits, according to 2015 data from the Auditor's office.

Valladares, a Kirkwood Community College graduate, also suggests slimming down the board.

Valladares, a voter outreach coordinator for the Linn County Elections Office, said he would instead allocate the money to 'places that need it” like infrastructure and public safety.

'The reason why I am running is because Linn County doesn't feel safe anymore. We have crime left and right - all over the place. We need to get to the bottom of that,” he said.

'The one way to make the Corridor safe again and successful again is by working together, and that is what I bring to the table - the concept of hard work.”

Valladares also is the owner of the J & E Entertainment service company. He has served as a Latino liaison for Diversity Focus in the Corridor and started Sunset Salsa in 2012.

He believes his leadership could help cure the board's ongoing squabble with Linn County Auditor Joel Miller, who also is up for election.

'I want to work in transparency and will help enhance the amazing work that the auditor's office is doing,” he said. 'Transparency for the good of all.”

Valladares' current employment with the election office under the wing of the Linn County Auditor does 'absolutely not” give him an unfair advantage, he said.

'I was a public figure before I started working for Linn County. Currently I do not have access to I-Voters or the ballot rooms. I am working in my own corner doing voter outreach,” he said.

Polls are open Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Delma Clarke

Age: 72

Lives: Cedar Rapids

Works: Caretaker

Education: High school degree

Community: Volunteers at the Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center

Quote: 'I think it is fairly obvious, I'm going to be more honest than a lot of people are - that's the most important thing.”

Tim Gull

Age: 53

Lives: Cedar Rapids

Works: Owner of Metro Transmission and Auto Repair.

Education: Graduated from the University of Northern Iowa and served in the U.S. Army and Army National Guard.

Community: Member of area ski club, boat club and Chevrolet Corvette club.

Quote: 'I think my combination and background of having served in the military, being a business owner and having to make a payroll puts me in a unique position.”

Edwin Valladares

Age: 39

Lives: Cedar Rapids

Works: Voter outreach coordinator for the Linn County Elections Office and owner of J & E Entertainment.

Education: Kirkwood Community College graduate

Community: Developed Sunset Salsa in 2012, a free event 'to increase diversity integration hence retention” in Cedar Rapids, Iowa City and Quad Cities.

Quote: 'Linn County doesn't feel safe anymore. We have crime left and right - all over the place. We need to get to the bottom of that.”