Washington High School teacher announces candidacy for Linn County Board of Supervisors

CEDAR RAPIDS - Washington High School teacher Randy Ray has announced his plans to run for Linn County Board of Supervisors.

Ray, 60, said he's long been interested in politics and felt participating in local government was the best way to make a difference.

'I wanted to run for something more local, not that other positions aren't important, but for me I felt I could make more of an instant impact,” Ray said.

Ray, a Republican, will face Democrat and two-term incumbent Brent Oleson, who is the current District 4 Supervisors.

As a newcomer, Ray said he felt his outsider perspective brings a benefit to the board and he hopes to meet with residents to hear what the voting public wants to see their county board doing.

'My biggest thing is tax payer dollars belong to the tax payer. We need to keep that in mind,” he said. 'I don't think it's so much people have a problem with their taxes, but where their tax dollars are being spent.”

Along with Oleson, two-term supervisor Ben Rogers, District 3, also is running for re-election.

Supervisor Linda Langston is not running for another term in District 2. She, along with Oleson and Rogers, have endorsed candidate Stacey Walker, chair of the newly created Safe, Equitable and Thriving Communities Task Force, who is running for her seat.