There still is time for you to run for county office

Years ago, I wrote about the lack of competition on the November 2012 ballot for the Linn County offices up for election. Not much has changed four years later except Supervisor Linda Langston (D) is not seeking re-election.

With the exception of Republican Randy Ray (R) running against Supervisor Brent Oleson, a Democrat, no one has filed to run against incumbent Democrats, Supervisor Ben Rogers, Sheriff Brian Gardner or Auditor Joel Miller - me.

Thus far, Stacey Walker, a Democrat who was recruited by Langston, is the only candidate to file to run for Langston's position.

Obviously, several thousand residents are unhappy with the status quo of the Linn County Board of Supervisors or the petitioners wanting to reduce the number of supervisors on the board would not be getting several hundred signatures per day.

But going from 'unhappy” to 'filing for office” seems to be a major leap for at least four residents who should be stepping forth to challenge the unchallenged incumbents, including me.

Why four? That's one Republican each to oppose Walker, Rogers, Gardner and me. Four is the minimum number of additional candidates - nominated by district in the case of the supervisors - needed to create competition in the November general election.

It is true that the Republican Party can nominate a candidate after the primary election. But why procrastinate? In fact, procrastination puts a candidate selected in July or August at a distinct disadvantage in running for office. I do not recall anyone overcoming that disadvantage.

Every incumbent needs to be challenged to keep us from becoming complacent, to keep us from taking our customers for granted, to keep us from becoming arrogant and to keep us as engaged as we were the first day we took office.

Incumbents need to be asked questions. Incumbents need to be held accountable. And incumbents need to come up with new ideas for running their offices. None of those things occur unless they are challenged by an opponent.

I am reminded of my father, the late Kenneth D. Miller, who was an Iowa State Representative for 10 years. He was elected to office on his third attempt. The first and second time he ran was to ensure his opponent was challenged - he did little campaigning. The third time he ran, he actively campaigned and won that election, and several elections thereafter.

Democracy is not a spectator sport! So collect some signatures and file your papers by 5 p.m. on March 30, and get on the ballot. You do not have to have a Ph.D. or 20 years of experience or the perfect background. You just have to care about this community, this county, more than yourself.

For more information, contact the Linn County Auditor's Office at (319) 892-5300 or visit http://owl.li/ZOPQ4 to watch a video explaining how to fill out the paperwork to run for office.

'Joel D. Miller is the Linn County Auditor. Comments: joel.miller@linncounty.org