Phil Hemingway, Johnson County Board of Supervisors

The Gazette sent a questionnaire to candidates who are on the Nov. 3, 2020, ballot for boards of supervisors in Linn and Johnson counties. The responses are unedited, unless to correct spelling or punctuation. 

Three seats are up for election on the Johnson County Board of Supervisors. Phil Hemingway faces Democrats Lisa Green-Douglass, Royceann Porter and Rod Sullivan.

To see other candidates' responses for county, state and federal races, visit our Election 2020 Candidates page. 

Why are you running for office? What have you done to prepare for this position? How will you approach learning about issues and making decisions on issues that you don't have extensive experience with?

To bring my fiscal oversight and common sense leadership to the board and provide a new perspective and a voice for ALL residents of Johnson County. Having lived and worked in agriculture or the skilled trades in Johnson County, being a member of ICCSD BOE for 4 years and chairman of the finance committee for 3 years. I have always sought input from the community and experts and make data informed decisions.

What are the three largest issues facing the county? What will you do to address them?

1. Mental health – meeting the ever-expanding needs for mental health services in Johnson County by Increasing Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Services, Expanding the Mental Health Workforce, Education, and Expanding physical space.

2. Improving the county's relationship with the community and staff by working cooperatively and respectfully with everyone. People who navigate the county system must have a clear roadmap, no surprises. All county business should be transparent and community input should be sought, valued, and utilized.

3. Maintaining existing infrastructure: roads and bridges; we must make sure existing infrastructure is properly maintained and not neglected. Rural roads are crucial to agriculture and our outlying communities.

What do you identify as your budget priorities? What do you see as the least important funding priorities?

We should always be looking for savings not only when we are in a tight budgetary situation. Every opportunity to run the county leaner and more efficiently should be looked at; not just when we are in a tight budget cycle.  

What can the county do to expand the reach and availability of mental health services to residents?

Especially in these COVID-19 times, the county needs to increase support for community-based assistance for residents in most need of mental health services.

What, if anything, would you do to improve the way the county works with other governmental bodies in the county?

I would bring a unique perspective to the supervisor position since I have served as an ICCSD board member and attended joint entities meeting in that role. We must recognize that all municipality budgets are tight and demands for greater and newer facilities and services will consistently put pressure on budgets. This reality should push all groups to work with one another to pool resources wherever possible.  

What is your response to recent protests calling for racial justice? What changes to law enforcement policy or budgeting do you support?

All voices should be shared and recognized and valued. I have always supported and protected every individual's right to free speech and assembly and will continue to do so. But a society that does not support law enforcement and first responders and the rule of law will quickly disintegrate into anarchy and chaos. All county elected officials and employees must be accountable to the community. We must recognize differences of opinion and conduct it in a civil manner.