Sullivan seeking re-election in Johnson County

IOWA CITY – Rod Sullivan said Monday he will seek re-election next year to his seat on the Johnson County Board of Supervisors.

The two-term Democrat is the first person to declare for the election.

“I think we've done a lot of really good things, but I still think there's more to do,” the 45-year-old from Iowa City said of his reason for running again.

Among the issues he wants to address are improving rural housing conditions in places like dilapidated mobile home parks, a problem that has dogged the county for years at Regency Mobile Home Park.

Another is advocating for state and local changes to tax-increment financing. Sullivan has long been critical of the use of TIF by local governments, and he sees some momentum with the questions that have arisen from Coralville's use of the financial incentive to land a Von Maur department store.

Finally, Sullivan wants to maintain social services for people in need. With the struggling economy, he said he knows there won't be as large of increases in those services as he believes is necessary, but he wants to avoid cuts.

Sullivan was a social worker before becoming a supervisor.

Three of the Board of Supervisor's five seats are up for election next year. Chairman Pat Harney and Terrence Neuzil hold the other two.

A primary election is scheduled for June 5 for voters registered with political parties to nominate candidates for the Nov. 6 general election.

No Republican has served on Johnson County's Board of Supervisors since 1962, so the Democrats who make it past the primary have a strong chance of being re-elected.

Among his accomplishments since first being elected in 2004, Sullivan listed the response and recovery from the 2008 flood, adding tornado sirens in rural areas, establishing a buy local policy, and the county passing human rights, wind-energy and sensitive areas ordinances.

Sullivan and his wife, Melissa Fath, a cancer researcher at the University of Iowa, have three children.

Supervisors serve four-year terms.