Langston lauds power of collaboration, as she prepares to step down

CEDAR RAPIDS — More than a decade in local government can bring many challenges and responsibilities, but if Linda Langston has had one consistent focus in her time as a Linn County supervisor, it has been nonpartisan collaboration.

'What I tell my fellow elected leaders around the country is you do not have to be the leader, but what you do have to be is the convener. In this office, you have the ability to convene people — the power of the office allows you to bring people together,' she said.

'You will never find a pothole that is a red pothole or a blue pothole, but you will find potholes saying, 'Fix me,' ' she said. 'At the level of county government, we do not have the luxury of partisan politics.'

After 14 years on the Linn County Board of Supervisors, Langston, 62, a Democrat and the only woman on the board, announced this week she would not be seeking re-election in November.

Langston represents District 2, which includes swathes of southeast and southwest Cedar Rapids and College Township. Candidates interested in the position — and so far, at least two are — have until March 30 to file.

The five supervisors are each paid more than $100,000 a year and oversee a $105 million annual budget and nearly 800 employees and establish land use policy, county health and social service offerings and county road programs, among other duties.

Sitting Thursday in her office in the Jean Oxley Linn County Public Service Center, 935 Second St. SW, Langston looked back on her time as a supervisor, but also looked at what the future holds.

'I think I leave really with a lot of pride,' she said. 'I really do believe that being in political office is truly not supposed to be a career ... It's been a good run, but I think there are some other things I can do in some other arenas.'

Langston was elected to the board in 2002, ousting incumbent Lumir Dostal Jr. While on the board, she has served on local groups including the East Central Iowa Council of Governments and Linn County Public Health Board and national organizations like the National Association of Counties and the National Advisory Council for FEMA. In 2014, she was inducted into the International Women in Homeland Security and Emergency Management Hall of Fame for her work on disaster recovery and resiliency.

In 2008, before the board grew from three to five elected officials, Langston experienced disaster recovery firsthand when record flooding devastated the county.

Supervisor James Houser, who was on the board with Langston and Lu Barron when the flood hit, recalled how the three-member board handled the county's rebuilding efforts.

'We all were on the same page together and Linda was a part of that team,' he said. 'I think it will be a loss to Linn County, with her knowledge and experience leaving.'

Langston said she wasn't ready to discuss what her next venture will be after her term ends at the close of the year, but she said she's interested in pursuing 'one more large opportunity.'

'I've enjoyed my time here ... but I think there really is a point in time where you know you want to step aside and let other people have an opportunity,' she said.

With her departure leaving a vacancy next year, at least two people have expressed interest in running for the seat — chair of the newly created Safe, Equitable and Thriving Communities Task Force Stacey Walker and former Cedar Rapids City Council member Wade Wagner.

Walker, 28, and Wagner, 58, have not formally announced, but both said they are strongly considering running for the seat.

Wagner, a former television news and farm reporter who also served as parks commissioner, said his interest in public service and mental health have him looking at the county board.

'I have some concerns with the developmentally disabled and some of the programs we offer, they're kind of in jeopardy,' he said, noting having a sister with Down syndrome as a driving factor for him. 'I've been involved with that a little bit off and on, watching some of the changes going on, so I have sort of a personal stake.'

Walker said he views one of the county's biggest roles as facilitating and encouraging collaborative efforts between jurisdictions.

'I really see the county as being a player and being able to collaborate with cities and towns in a way that can lead to progress,' he said. 'We've got to start thinking as a region, if we really want to do 21st century economic development.'