Q&A with Linn County Supervisor District 2 candidate Brett Mason

Brett Mason, 64, of Cedar Rapids, owns a technology company and is seeking election to the Linn Supervisor District 2 seat. He has not held previous office. Mason, a Republican, faces Democratic incumbent Ben Rogers, who has been on the board since 2009.

We posed a set of questions about the office to all of the Supervisor candidates. Below is the transcript of Mason’s answers. Polls will be open on election day from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

What do you think are the three most important issues the county is facing? What would you do to address them?

Mason: 1, Linn County suffers from inexperienced Supervision, a bias toward candidates’ political resume building, and a lack of planning and follow-through on most initiatives. 2. Duplication of efforts already provided in our county results in wasted monies, but does provide employment for friends of Supervisors. 3. Spending monies not in budget has become an ongoing practice and needs to stop. Linn County needs leadership. It's time.

Do you support the use of eminent domain for CO2 pipelines? Why or why not?

Mason: Agriculture and Energy initiatives are legislated by Federal and State law. What does the law say? Legislators make the law, not Supervisors. When Supervisors make decisions to try to undermine the work of our legislators, they are working outside their lane and waste moneys not in their purview. Linn County could really use leadership to do what is required for the County, and leave legislation to the legislature.

If you’re forced to cut the county’s budget, where do you look for savings? Why?

Mason: Linn County must learn to spend what is in budget. If departments were created not in budget, these should be carefully reviewed and brought into line with the budget. Departments which fail to do their work should be considered for reduction. Hypothetically, if Linn County was purchasing farms for projects not in budget, such properties should be sold and the funds placed back into the general fund. Similarly, departments should be reviewed for viability, and if services are already available through another agency, then duplicate County services should be terminated or dramatically reduced. Departments not doing their work should considered. If Attorneys are unwilling to prosecute crime, then such department should be reviewed. Engineers refusing to repair roads and bridges, the same.

How well does the county work with other government entities within the county today (i.e. City of Cedar Rapids, Cedar Rapids Schools). Would joint meetings between governing bodies help or do you have other ideas to improve the working relationship?

Mason: My meetings with several city mayors have shown our County Supervisors do not work well with other agencies. Duplication of efforts, and failure to collaborate are a continual issue. We need convocations, where Supervisors and all the mayors work together. School Boards operate under the State. The Board of Supervisors is wrong to manipulate the planning and actions of our school boards. Writing ordinances against free speech for pastors and church leaders, to solve problems which do not exist in the county, should be shunned. This is not a political football upon which people build their future careers. It's a County needing real leadership.

How would you assess the long-term planning and vision of the county? Are there areas that you think should be planned for?

Mason: Linn County is losing employers, bleeding jobs, and watching small businesses fold because of overbearing policies and restrictions from Federal, state and local governing agencies. When federal relief monies come in, they are not spent to restore these, but are spent for pet projects of the Supervisors to the benefit themselves and their friends. “Planning” went out the window when beyond-the-budget spending became a Supervisory practice rather than an emergency measure. Linn County needs real planning, real budgeting, and the will to execute according to such plan. Iconic social projects that fail to accomplish what was declared – these need to stop. But nobody has stepped forward to say “No” – so I will.

There's been conversation about the number of Supervisors (5 members or 3 members). How many Supervisors are necessary and why?

Mason: We have three Supervisors because of the vote of the people of Linn County. We have operated with both three and with five. 239,000 residents must be the ones to decide. Let’s listen to our citizens. When they want something different, let’s listen. This is not a Supervisors issue, it’s a ballot issue, and our residents have already voted.

When it comes to mental health, what do you see as major needs for Linn County? What does the county need in mental health resources and what should it do to encourage people to seek those services?

Mason: Linn County repurposed a building and called it the "Mental Health Access Center." In practice it’s a drunk tank and detoxification ward, where most clients never meet with a trained mental health care physician. People come in, dry out, and leave. Where is the follow-up plan? Where is the adjustment of doctors' schedules to ensure every client gets an appointment and a treatment plan going forward? My family lost our son to suicide, and this is no academic issue to us. White-washed iconic buildings do not solve the problem. What if Mental Health Care was more than an achievement for the Supervisor, and actually delivered what was hoped? It’s time for leadership.

What should the county's role be when it comes to affordable housing programs? Should there be partnerships with cities and other organizations? What other programs could the county implement to assist residents in need?

Mason: The County should partner with cities and local agencies to provide effective solutions. Buying a farm outside of town, with no services, no bus routes and little infrastructure – this is not the solution. Inexperienced leadership at the County level means we get buildings without plans, intentions without deliveries, and it must change now. We need leadership.

County supervisors have recently approved two large solar energy projects. Do you agree with this approval? Why or why not? How would you weigh the nearby property owners rights against larger benefit if asked to vote on a future development?

Mason: The Supervisors are now pushing for a 12-month moratorium on industrial solar projects in Linn County. They disagree with their own efforts of 2021 and 2022. What really happened? Supervisors rushed the projects in order to try to circumvent the Iowa Legislature from enacting appropriate energy and agricultural law. Now they want to listen - to experts. They hope for laws the legislature cannot overturn. The Supervisors have no business doing such. Solar on poor-production farmland makes sense. Solar at the expense of rural residents is wrong. But our Supervisors refuse to listen to residents. Energy is good. Solar is one option. But let’s not sacrifice residents for political achievements. And let’s work with the State Legislators appropriately. We need new leadership.

Should Linn County financially support the City of Cedar Rapids flood control system? Why or why not?

Mason: The County should work with every one of our 13 cities to make sure they are protected from disaster, best we can. We should ensure every County property has appropriate flood protection. They have not done this yet. Our rural communities need similar protection, and we should work to provide such. Elected Supervisors are the only civic leadership for these small townships and communities.