Democratic state senator wins Linn County Auditor seat, newcomer Republican will represent rural residents on Board of Supervisors

Democratic Iowa Sen. Todd Taylor claimed victory in the race to be the next Linn County Auditor, and Republican newcomer Brandy Zumbach Meisheid won the District 3 seat on the Linn County Board of Supervisors.

Democratic state legislator wins Linn County Auditor seat

Democratic Sen. Todd Taylor won 55 percent of the vote for Linn County Auditor on Tuesday, claiming a decisive 10-percentage point victory over Republican opponent Terry Chostner. A total of 108,810 votes were cast, according to unofficial results Tuesday.

Taylor will replace outgoing auditor Joel Miller, a Democrat in the office since 2007 who last year announced his plans to leave the office. The auditor is commissioner of elections, prepares and certifies tax levies to all taxing entities in the county, and provides accounting and clerk services for Linn County, among other functions.

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Both candidates campaigned on transparency and accountability as the most important issues facing the office, with each suggesting various changes to strengthen procedures and public confidence in the office.

Taylor, 58, of Cedar Rapids, has served in the Iowa Legislature for 29 years. He has served as a state senator for District 40 since being elected in 2018. Before that, he served as a state representative starting in 1995.

In the Legislature, Taylor served on the Appropriations and State Government committees, where voting laws are created.

After having his “turn at making laws,” Taylor said he wants to continue serving the public and maintain the office’s “multilayered checks and balances” in voting systems to prioritize transparency, accountability and efficiency in the office.

He hopes to maintain public trust in the office through regular access to the press and an “open-door policy” on decisions made throughout his first term.

“I pledge to keep all parties involved in our process to ensure the faith in the system we have and which we must maintain,” he said in a candidate questionnaire distributed by The Gazette.

Republican opponent Terry Chostner, of Alburnett, ran with no prior political experience. The sales engineer with Hartfiel Automation said his 40 years of high-tech manufacturing experience made him “uniquely qualified at creating capable systems,” in the Auditor’s Office.

Chostner, 59, previously volunteered as a poll worker and polling site chair, and hoped to help residents he worked with trust that election results are accurate and that taxpayer dollars are being “wisely” spent.

Zumbach Meisheid wins District 3 seat on Board of Supervisors

Republican Brandy Zumbach Meisheid claimed victory over Iowa Sen. Molly Donahue in a bid for the only Linn County Board of Supervisors seat up for election on Tuesday.

Zumbach Mansheid, who has not held public office before, earned 52 percent of the 41,695 votes cast, edging out Donahue’s 48 percent.

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The 33-year-old small business owner from Coggon will fill the seat as her father, incumbent Republican Louis J. Zumbach, leaves the board. The seat represents Marion, Robins, Lisbon, Mount Vernon, Springville, Bertram, Prairieburg, Coggon, Central City, Alburnett, Center Point and Walker, as well as most unincorporated rural areas of Linn County.

The supervisor-elect has served on Linn County’s Board of Adjustment for the last four years as both Chair and Vice Chair. She said her experience as a small-business owner will shape her approach to Linn County’s budget, ensuring it prioritizes the needs of “hardworking constituents and their families.”

“We need to continue to make sure Linn County is a place people want to live and raise their families by making sure our property taxes reflect the services people in the county want and need,” she told The Gazette in a candidate questionnaire, noting that priorities can vary significantly among residents.

Zumbach Meisheid said counties have a “vital role” in making sure people who need mental health services know where to get them.

“I want to make sure that the Linn County General Services Department works closely with the new mental health district to make sure that residents of Linn County have the information on who to contact to access these services for themselves or their families, should the need arise,” Zumbach Meisheid said, referring to the passing of House File 2673 earlier this year.

Both candidates said the county should play a role in ensuring affordable housing. Zumbach Meisheid said the county’s efforts should include partnerships with other municipal entities, as well as public-private partnerships.

Zumbach Meisheid said she supports requiring companies proposing wind and solar projects to post a performance bond guaranteeing that land would be restored to its original value after a project is completed.

Opponent Molly Donahue, an educator and Democratic Iowa Senator, represents District 37 encompassing Marion, as well as parts of southeast and northeast Cedar Rapids. She previously served a term in the Iowa House, starting in 2019.

The Marion resident, 57, campaigned on addressing economic development in rural areas, affordable housing, strengthening public schools, and improving recreation to attract and retain families to smaller towns.

She also held a strong public health system as a priority, particularly in rural Linn County.

Gazette reporters Trish Mehaffey and Grace King contributed to this report.