Phil Hemingway gets GOP nod in Johnson County Board of Supervisors special election

IOWA CITY - Just weeks after wrapping up his first campaign for the Johnson County Board of Supervisors, Phil Hemingway is again the county Republicans' nominee for an open board seat.

Hemingway was nominated by the party Saturday. He'll face Democrat Royceann Porter in a Dec. 18 special election for a term on the board through 2020.

The seat came open after Supervisor Kurt Friese died last month.

A current Iowa City Community School Board member, Hemingway, 58, lost his first bid for supervisor in November's General Election to Pat Heiden and incumbent Janelle Rettig, both Democrats.

Hemingway grew up in rural Johnson County and spent many years in agriculture. Because of his background, Hemingway said he understands rural issues.

'When we were talking with people for the November election, a lot of rural residents felt that their concerns weren't really being represented by the existing board and by other candidates, so that'll be something we'll be focusing on,” Hemingway said of his special election campaign.

Rural roads and mental health resources are also a part of Hemingway's platform.

The winner of the special election will join Rettig, Rod Sulivan, Mike Carberry and Lisa Green-Douglass on the board. Heiden will take Carberry's seat in January.

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