Posted on

No fireworks at supervisor forum

Candidates for Floyd County supervisor answer questions at a forum Tuesday evening at the fairgrounds, sponsored by the Floyd County Farm Bureau. From left are Stewart Dalton, Doug Kamm, Roy Schwickerath and Michael Staudt. Press photo by Bob Steenson
Candidates for Floyd County supervisor answer questions at a forum Tuesday evening at the fairgrounds, sponsored by the Floyd County Farm Bureau. From left are Stewart Dalton, Doug Kamm, Roy Schwickerath and Michael Staudt. Press photo by Bob Steenson
By Bob Steenson, bsteenson@charlescitypress.com 

There were no disagreements among four candidates for Floyd County supervisor at a forum Tuesday evening.

The candidates, who are running for two seats on the county board in the Nov. 6 general election, each gave their individual takes on the answer to eight questions that were decided upon by representatives of the Floyd County Farm Bureau, which sponsored the forum, but many of the answers were similar.

Doug Kamm, Roy Schwickerath, Stewart Dalton and Michael Staudt each tried to impress the audience of about 50 people at the county fairgrounds with the reasons that he would be best at the job, but the atmosphere was congenial and none of the candidates had harsh words regarding his opponents.

“I agree with …” what the previous speakers had to say was as common a beginning to the answers as any.

Each of the candidates gave introductory remarks:

Dalton, 65, Democrat, said he is interested in the job of supervisor partly because he worked in social services close to 20 years.

“I thought I might be able to help with the upcoming problems we are going to have with the Medicaid issues in terms of social services,” he said. “I’m familiar with the programs, the funding sources and how they operate.”

Dalton also said the county has some of the finest land in the world “and we need to protect that.”

“We have water that we need to protect and we have air that we need to protect,” he said.

Dalton said the Master Matrix, the state form that is used to determine if applications for large confined animal feeding operations (CAFOs) are approved, may need some tweaking to consider new technologies that are available now.

Kamm, 64, a Republican and the incumbent, just finishing his second four-year term, gave some of his family and business history, saying he spent most of his life in Floyd County and has operated an excavating business here for about 40 years.

“Being a supervisor is pretty satisfying most days. Other days it’s trying, but other days not so much,” he said.

Schwickerath, 61, a Democrat, said he has also spent most of his life in Floyd County, and had been a member of the Charles City Fire Department for 32 years, six as a volunteer and 26 as a full-time employee, including his last 14 years as chief.

“I learned a lot of things through that career, but the fire chief’s position really gave me that experience how to make decisions, how to deal with people, and it really gave me that background that I think is very important for doing this job,” he said.

Schwickerath said he had been a Floyd County supervisor for four years, until being defeated in the 2016 election.

“I learned a lot,” he said. “In the beginning as a supervisor there’s a lot of decisions that have to be made and a lot of things that people have to know. I served on a lot of boards and commissions, represented all of you, and I was the chair of the original jail committee. I think I bring a lot back to the board.”

Staudt, 47, no party, said he served on the Farmers Co-op board in Rudd about 16 years, including being chairman of the board that oversaw the merger with Viafield, then served on the Viafield board for a few more years.

He was on the Roseville Parish Council and is currently a member of the Rudd-Rockford-Marble Rock school board.

“I’ve been on a lot of boards and that’s part of the reason I’m running for supervisor,” Staudt said. “I just want to be here to represent you. I always feel that’s what board members do — they represent their constituents.”

Questions asked by the Farm Bureau and some of the candidates’ answers were:

1) How do you perceive the state of the economy of Floyd County, and how can we make it better?

All four candidates agreed the economy of the county is strong and most said they would work to help bring in more business and industry, but some also noted that many existing businesses are having problems finding workers, and some mentioned problems with aspects of the farm economy.

The county has done a good job developing its industries, especially the pharmaceutical industries, Dalton said. The supervisors can support business by supporting community development efforts and keeping property taxes in check.

“Right now business is booming, but it’s the same problem everyone else has, it’s finding labor, finding employees,” Kamm said. He said Iowa and the county need to work to make this an attractive place to live and to offer something for everyone.

He also said there are good jobs available now and they don’t all require a college education.

Schwickerath said he agreed, and added that those young adults who do decide to go to college need to have jobs to come back to so they can return to the area.

Supervisors can do their part to support air and water quality and and good schools — a good quality of life, Schwickerath said.

Staudt agreed much of the economy is strong, “but it’s tight right now for farmers.”

He said he would work to bring more people to the county, but didn’t have specific ideas on that.

2) How do you intend to connect with constituents across the county?

Kamm said anyone who knows him will say he enjoys talking with and meeting people, and his business takes him to every part of the county.

He said he is always available to people, in person, by phone or by email.

Schwickerath said in his four years on the board he was always available, and his email address, home phone number and cell number are open to anyone.

He said he tried listening posts when he was a supervisor, but they were poorly attended, so he decided the best way to stay in contact is to reach out to people and to be available when they want to contact him.

Staudt said it’s important to be involved in the community, to be active in church events and school events and all the places where people are.

Dalton agreed, saying he’s been active on the Arts Council and other groups, and noting that as a social worker he was on call 24 hours a day, with his phone always by his side.

“I would so that again as a supervisor,” he said.

Dalton said he also learned while campaigning for the seat that it’s important to go door-to-door, and to be willing to talk with anyone, regardless of whether they agree with you or not.

3) How do you plan to ensure that the law enforcement center project remains on budget?

All four candidates said it takes a hand-on approach of watching the budget and being involved in making decisions on how the money is being spent.

Schwickerath said it’s important to remember that just because the voters passed a $13.5 million bond referendum, the county doesn’t have to spend that much if it isn’t necessary.

“We want it to last 50 years, but we don’t need a Cadillac,” he said, adding that his duties as fire chief included being a building inspector and dealing with architects and contractors and engineers.

Staudt said his experience on the co-op board showed him you need to keep on top of the budget, and Dalton said transparency is important, so the public knows how the decisions are being made and how the money is being spent.

Kamm part of the project is updating the courthouse, which is a 67-year-old building that has “good bones” and has had great maintenance, but hasn’t had any real updating. Keeping on top of those expenses will be an important part of the process, he said.

Editor’s note: This story will continued in the Thursday Press and online Wednesday because of time and space limitations during production Tuesday evening.

Social Share

LATEST NEWS