Articles Tagged: Johnson County Board of Supervisors

Members of the Cedar Rapids school board and Johnson County Board of Supervisors are the latest public officials to come out against the gun rights amendment on the Nov. 8 ballot.

Five candidates are running for two seats on the Johnson County Board of Supervisors. Learn more about them before early voting begins Oct. 19.

The forums will be held in person and streamed online. Early voting begins Oct. 19.

Democrat Jon Green of Lone Tree was elected last June in a special election to fill the seat vacated by former supervisor Janelle Rettig. He has experience in journalism and information technology, as well as experience serving as Lone Tree mayor.

Republican Phil Hemingway wants to bring rural representation to the Johnson County Board of Supervisors. Hemingway, who was born and raised in the county, is running for the fifth time for a seat on the board.

Jammie Bradshaw of Lone Tree said running for a seat on the board felt like the “natural next step” because she wanted to continue to serve her community after a decade of serving in the military.

V Fixmer-Oraiz said they have always been interested in public policy and serving the community. But now felt like the right moment to take the next step and run for elected office.

The majority of the board supports raising supervisors’ salaries by 2.25 percent and the salaries of other elected officials 4.42 percent — a lower increase than the 18 percent recommendation from the compensation board.

Still, there are signs that some local officials are growing wary of never-ending police budget increases.

The five supervisors unanimously voted down the sheriff’s request to buy a $240,000 Lenco BearCat armored vehicle to replace to larger one used since 2014.

According to the county, Supervisor Royceann Porter is the first African American to serve as chairperson of the board since the county was established in 1837.

Sheriff Brad Kunkel is requesting $240,000 for a Lenco BearCat to replace the current MRAP, as well as funds to replace aging camera equipment in fiscal 2023.

The final public input session will begin at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 27, at the county’s administration building in Iowa City. The Board of Supervisors has been discussing a list of priorities for the funding.

County officials are debating whether they want a BearCat or an MRAP. The task now should be ensuring public oversight, which currently is nonexistent.

The Fund Excluded Workers Coalition says Iowa City’s and Johnson County’s delay in providing American Rescue Plan money to undocumented workers and others who were essential during the COVID-19 pandemic is a potential violation of the city’s Human Rights ordinance.