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Q&A with Cedar County Supervisor candidates
News · October 31, 2014
The Tipton Conservative posed questions to each of the four candidates for Cedar County Supervisor.
There are two seats to be filled.
Brad Gaul
Background: I have been married to my wife, Jill for 37 1/2 years. I graduated from Tipton High School. I worked in the secondary roads department for 33 years, where I maintained roads for four different districts. I am seeking a second term as a Cedar County supervisor. It has been a very humbling experience and if elected, I will again be a good listener for the Cedar county taxpayers.
1. A recent shooting incident at the Jackson County Courthouse in Maquoketa has raised concerns about security at the Courthouse in Tipton. What, if any, changes do you think need to be made here and why?
I feel that training for our employees on safety awareness is the best thing right now. Metal detectors are not foolproof and hiring more security is expensive and also is not foolproof. Continued security awareness, I feel, is the best preventative measure right now.
2. The public will be voting on a large bond issue for new secondary roads facilities in Tipton. Do you support this issue? Why or why not?
I am not in favor of the office complex right now. I am not against part of the building complex to house most of the equipment. Maybe doing this project in phases is a possibility. I do believe that the taxpayers should be made more aware of what this is all about, the cost and possibly doing this project in phases.
3. What do you feel are the top three issues facing Cedar County is the coming one to five years?
A. Spend the taxpayers’ dollars wisely. I do not believe that fiscal responsibility and quality services are mutually exclusive.
B. I am adamantly opposed to county consolidation. I believe our citizens are best served with local providers as opposed to outside-of-county providers when possible.
C. Keeping our employees here! Training new employees is expensive and time-consuming. To provide the quality of county services, we must work on employee retention and long-term workplace stability.
4. How do you feel about the consolidation of county services with other counties?
Prevention of county consolidation is one of the most important duties of a county supervisor. Keeping our services local is the best for all of us and will save us tax dollars in the long run.
5. Are you satisfied with the condition of our rural roads? Please explain.
We do the best we can with our road system, with limited resources that we have to provide the high quality roads. Feedback from the public is helpful in monitoring the continued quality.
The state needs to debate and settle next year the issue of infrastructure of road funding.
6. What concerns do you have about the operation of Cedar County government?
We have some amazing, highly skilled employees and department heads. They try to keep costs down and are hardworking.
I am satisfied at this time with our operations but at the same time, we all can strive to do even better for the taxpayers of this county. The few exceptions to this should be dealt with fairly and swiftly.
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Dave Shinker
Background: I am 57 years old and reside in rural Stanwood. I retired after 31 years in law enforcement. I have been married to Bobette for 39 years and we have two children and four grandchildren.
1. A recent shooting incident at the Jackson County Courthouse in Maquoketa has raised concerns about security at the Courthouse in Tipton. What, if any, changes do you think need to be made here and why?
I believe we need a part-time officer during busy court days. Also, education of staff about critical incidents is very important. I think our current security does an excellent job.
2. The public will be voting on a large bond issue for new secondary roads facilities in Tipton. Do you support this issue? Why or why not?
There is a need for facilities, but I am concerned about the tax burden on citizens. I would like to attack the proposal to build in stages.
3. What do you feel are the top three issues facing Cedar County is the coming one to five years?
First, infrastructure and facilities, then bridges and then maintaining adequate services to the public while remaining financially stable.
4. How do you feel about the consolidation of county services with other counties?
I would like to keep services local whenever possible.
5. Are you satisfied with the condition of our rural roads? Please explain.
Yes, but we need to continue our efforts with improvements to our roads.
6. What concerns do you have about the operation of Cedar County government?
Continue to make progress in becoming more visible to the citizens of Cedar County.
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Dawn R. Smith
Background: (none provided)
1. A recent shooting incident at the Jackson County Courthouse in Maquoketa has raised concerns about security at the Courthouse in Tipton. What, if any, changes do you think need to be made here and why?
Having been a City Official for the last nine years, we have considered this issue before. I feel A.L.I.C.E. training is very important in empowering our County employees who at this time, all could be put in dangerous situations in or out of the courthouse. They should know how to prepare themselves in these types of situations. I also feel a warning system on the courthouse phones could be beneficial to both staff and the public.
2. The public will be voting on a large bond issue for new secondary roads facilities in Tipton. Do you support this issue? Why or why not?
I think we need something to help protect the County Roads Department equipment from the elements. We, as taxpayers, have invested millions of dollars in equipment. I am extremely concerned about the overall cost of the project. It will be up to the taxpayers to decide on November 4th.
3. What do you feel are the top three issues facing Cedar County is the coming one to five years?
• Maintaining roads and infrastructure; road use tax is a big factor in this.
• Providing public safety and EMS services to all county residents.
• Being conservative in revenue projections and budgeting accordingly.
4. How do you feel about the consolidation of county services with other counties?
I do not think consolidating county services helps anyone but the big counties. Our citizens pay the same and get less services but have to travel farther for them.
5. Are you satisfied with the condition of our rural roads?
In order to improve rural roads to standards able to handle today’s vehicle weights and loads, aging bridges will have to be replaced or reinforced. Roads will continually need to be maintained. As I have said previously, increasing the road use tax counties receive from the State will be crucial.
6. What concerns do you have about the operation of Cedar County government?
I feel it is very important for County Official to be able to listen to suggestions by county employees as well as the public in order to improve and make county operations more efficient.
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Douglas Simkin
Background: I am 48 years of age, and I am a Democrat. I have 3 children. I have three college degrees: bachelor of science, communication studies; bachelor of arts, English literature; Juris Doctor, emphasis on agricultural law. All degrees conferred by the University of Iowa.
I am a retired attorney, having practiced law in Iowa from 2000-2013. I was a sole practitioner in Tipton from 2003-2013. I served as city prosecutor for the City of West Branch from 2009-2013. I served as the city attorney for the City of Mechanicsville from 2010-2013. In my private practice, I represented small businesses, families, farmers, real estate developers, criminal defendants, parties to litigation, parties to contracts, and adoptive parents. I have worked, under various roles in the community, with the Board of Supervisors as well as nearly every other department in the courthouse. I am confident in my ability to work with present members of the board for the benefit of the citizens of Cedar County.
Community Involvement: Cedar County Empowerment Board, 2005-2011; chair 2010-2011. Administered state and federal grant funds for use by entities providing early childhood development services as well as school readiness services within Cedar County. Rotary Club of Tipton, 2003-2008; president 2007-2008. Chair of Highway Cleanup Committee. Chair of Scholarship Committee. Cedar County Democratic Party, 2001-present. Member Cedar County Central Committee 2001-present; chair, 2005-2006. Iowa Democratic Party, 2003-present; past delegate and member, State Platform Committee. Cedar Lodge No. 11 AF & AM., 2006-present, member, officer and Past Master. Tipton Public Library, volunteer for Children’s Story Hour. Future Farmers of America, volunteer judge for student competitions. Iowa Mock Trial Competition, volunteer judge for student competitions. Cedar County Stoplight Players, various community theatre productions from 2006-2010.
1. A recent shooting incident at the Jackson County Courthouse in Maquoketa has raised concerns about security at the Courthouse in Tipton. What, if any, changes do you think need to be made here and why?
While I hope never to encounter an incident like the recent tragedy in Maquoketa, I do not feel that we need to overreact in response. The courthouse has an able security guard presently. The security officer roams the courthouse continuously, except when court is in session, when she is in the courtroom. I know that the current board has discussed installing a “panic button” alarm system, and I support that. I am not, however, in favor of limiting access to the courthouse, installing metal detectors and paying the staff necessary to militarize the place where people go to get marriage licenses.
We must not give in to hysteria. One cannot predict the actions of someone who is irrational, who may not even exist.
2. The public will be voting on a large bond issue for new secondary roads facilities in Tipton. Do you support this issue? Why or why not?
I oppose the proposed bond issue. I agree that some of the county sheds have fallen into disrepair however, I favor wise use of county money to repair what we have rather than scrapping it all.
I am more concerned with the condition of our bridges. I feel that if the county is to go into debt to this degree, the money would be better spent to shore-up and rebuild bridges, rather than to build a shed in which to house the maintainers.
3. What do you feel are the top three issues facing Cedar County is the coming one to five years?
The top 3 issues that I see for the county are:
A. The need to improve the condition of our secondary roads and bridges. A significant number of bridges on our secondary roads have been deemed structurally deficient by the Iowa Department of Transportation. I think we need to make infrastructure a top priority.
B. Cedar County is ideally situated near three urban areas. We are experiencing growth and development in the country around our towns. I believe we need to encourage development, but we need to do so wisely. The county’s comprehensive plan was last done before the 2008 flood. I think time would be well-spent to revisit the comprehensive plan with an eye toward sensible development that balances the desires of landowners, the needs of residents, and the potential burden placed on the county for services to future developments.
C. As always, I think that it is incumbent upon us to protect and care for our elderly and those with disabilities. I believe our visiting nurses and public health aides do excellent and essential work. As our population is aging, we need to be prepared to offer more services to assist the elderly in remaining in their own homes for so long as it is safe for them to do so.
Similarly, I believe we need to provide necessary assistance to those with disabilities to allow them to work and contribute to the community, as they are able.
4. How do you feel about the consolidation of county services with other counties?
I oppose consolidation of county services. In Cedar County’s situation, it just doesn’t make sense. Consolidation with Clinton, Scott, Linn, Muscatine, or Johnson county would simply mean that our money would go to supplement services to the larger counties. Consolidation with Jones County would just mean both counties’ personnel and equipment would be spread farther. Consolidation means greater bureaucracy, which increases expense without commensurate return in improved services.
5. Are you satisfied with the condition of our rural roads?
I believe our secondary roads workers do a good job of maintaining the roads.
We are experiencing some growing pains. Our roads were built at a time when no one could foresee the size and weight of our present agricultural equipment that travels the secondary roads in the spring and fall. In addition, as future rural real estate development proceeds, there will be increased traffic of all kinds.
I think we need to make our secondary roads and bridges a higher budgetary priority. I believe there are state and federal grants available, for which we may qualify, that could bring in additional funding for bridge and roadway improvement.
6. What concerns do you have about the operation of Cedar County government?
I think that the greatest concern for any entity is budgeting. As I have said previously, I favor making secondary roads a higher budgeting priority. Also, I intend to investigate and pursue non-tax based funding, such as making application for grants to fund specific projects. For the most part, I believe the county runs pretty well, and where it isn’t broken, I don’t think it needs to be fixed.
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