Jon Green reelected to Johnson County Board of Supervisors, V Fixmer-Oraiz wins other open seat

IOWA CITY — Johnson County voters on Tuesday reelected incumbent Supervisor Jon Green to the Board of Supervisors, along with newcomer V Fixmer-Oraiz.

Green and Fixmer-Oraiz, both Democrats, will serve four-year terms on the five-member board. All seats on the Johnson County board are at-large.

Green, 39, received the most votes, followed by Fixmer-Oraiz, 44, founder and CEO of Astig Planning.

The two Democrats had a substantial lead over their opponents, Republicans Phil Hemingway and Jammie Bradshaw, as well as Eric Heick who ran as a no-party candidate.

Supervisor Pat Heiden, a Democrat, did not seek a second term.

With all 66 precincts reporting, Green won with 63 percent of the vote and Fixmer-Oraiz with 57 percent of the vote, according to unofficial results.

Johnson County turnout was 70.3 percent — 63,975 out of 90,948 registered voters. Turnout in 2018, the last midterm election, was 72.5 percent — 68,262 of 94,106 registered voters.

All election results are unofficial until the canvass of votes, which will be conducted by the Board of Supervisors on Nov. 15.

This is Green’s first full term on the board. He was elected a Johnson County supervisor in a June 2021 special election.

Green, who was born in Wyoming, has lived most of his life in Lone Tree, where he was mayor in 2018-19. He has work experience in journalism, public relations and information technology.

Green previously told The Gazette he sees the county’s three most important issues as affordable housing, sustainable energy and proposed carbon sequestration pipelines. Green wants to continue focusing on county projects funded by federal American Rescue Plan Act dollars.

“Part of the reason I ran for supervisor was to be able to impact the decisions taken today that will impact us in decades to come,” Green previously said.

For Fixmer-Oraiz, of Iowa City, the three most important issues facing the county are affordable housing, inclusive economic development and climate change sustainability and resilience. Fixmer-Oraiz said it will be important to think long-term.

This was Fixmer-Oraiz’s first time running for elected office, but they have worked closely with local municipalities, stakeholders and community members during their decade living and working in Johnson County. Fixmer-Oraiz’s firm, Astig Planning, is a community and environmental planning firm in Iowa City.

Fixmer-Oraiz previously told The Gazette how they want to highlight the importance of lived experiences, as well as representation in elected office.

"As a nonbinary trans person and then also as a queer person of color, I definitely have a different perspective and different lived experiences,“ Fixmer-Oraiz previously said. ”I do think it's important to have people in positions of leadership, so that our next generation can see themselves.“

Supervisors are currently paid $89,129 in fiscal 2023.

Other Johnson County races were uncontested

County Recorder: Johnson County voters reelected Kim Painter as the county recorder. Painter, a Democrat who ran unopposed, has served in this role since 1999.

The county recorder is paid $121,361 in fiscal 2023.

County Attorney: Democrat Rachel Zimmermann Smith is the new county attorney. Zimmermann Smith ran unopposed and is currently the office’s first assistant.

She succeeds Janet Lyness, who will retire as Johnson County Attorney at the end of her term. Lyness has worked in the office for 31 years and served as county attorney for 15 of those years.

The county attorney is paid $167,273 in fiscal 2023.

County Treasurer: Democrat Scott Finlayson is the new Johnson County Treasurer. Finlayson, who ran unopposed, is currently the lead deputy in the treasurer’s office.

Finlayson succeeds Tom Kriz, who has been treasurer since 1999.

The county treasurer is paid $121,361 in fiscal 2023.

Comments: (319) 339-3155; izabela.zaluska@thegazette.com