MEET THE CANDIDATES – Candidates running for Floyd County area offices

Candidates for local elected offices who are running in the Tuesday, Nov. 5, general election were invited to submit biographical information and answer questions regarding their candidacy. Responses are being presented with minimal editing.

Floyd County Supervisor

Gloria Carr

Running unopposed for the open supervisor representing District 1, running as No Party.

Hometown: Charles City; Age: 59; Family: Dennis Carr, husband, Michelle (step daughter) and Elika Paki, and twin granddaughters, Noelani and Scarlet.

Education: 1983 Charles City CSD graduate, 1984 Bauder Fashion College Retail Management Certification, and 2005 NIACC Associates Degree.

Experience: Floyd County auditor since November 2004, owner of Bayou Bend Mini Golf and Batting Cages since 1995, TriMark-New Hampton-Human Resources/Quality Assurance Assistant from 1995-2004, First Citizens National Bank personal banker and brokerage assistant from 1987-1995, Saxony-Charles City/Mason City-store manager from 1983-1987, Sonne Tax Service and H & R Block-various tax seasons from 1981-1996.

Why are you seeking this office?

As clerk to the Board of Supervisors for the past 20 years, I have valuable knowledge and experience to bring to the table. With one current supervisor having only two years of service, a new supervisor starting after the canvass of the Nov. 5 election, and a newly elected county auditor starting in January, there would be a huge learning curve. I feel I will be a tremendous asset for a smooth transition to continue county business.

What goals or priorities do you have for the office?

1) Represent all of Floyd County, not just District 1.

2) Ensure compliance with Iowa’s Sunshine Laws to be transparent and accountable to the public.

3) Improve my leadership skills in order to fulfill the duties of a county supervisor to preserve the rights and privileges of our residents and protect the property of the county.

4) Since COVID and political tension rising over the past four years, there seems to be a widespread decline in respect toward others and a waning trust in government. The supervisors have been dealing with several issues that have strained relationships among the board, other entities and constituents. Discussions in the boardroom used to have a more welcoming, conversation-like tone. More formal structure in conducting meetings has been implemented for recording purposes and for those who participate by phone or electronically to prevent talking over each other. There’s nothing wrong with agreeing to disagree once in a while and still treating each other with respect. I hope to bring to the table a better working relationship, a means to compromise, a more inviting atmosphere, and a balance of conversation with appropriate structure.

What are the most important issues facing this office?

1) Budgeting – I’ve heard many comments about the county needing to “live within its means.” House File 718, a property tax reform bill, has new unfunded mandates on local government, such as limitations on taxable valuation and revenue growth, implementation of Homestead 65 with no state backfill, military exemptions no longer funded by the state, and required mail notifications of budget hearings to property owners and local government bond ballot issues to all voters. These items that we have no control over have a direct hit on the budget. Compile that with state rollbacks, increased operating costs, and being a large employer that requires competitive wages and benefits, will challenge the board to “live within its means.” Our cities, schools and the county, and even neighboring counties, are inevitably going to need to think outside of the box for opportunities to share resources in order to combat budget challenges.

2) Commercial wind energy conversion systems – I am in support of C-WECS with a responsible ordinance that identifies critical components such as reasonable setbacks, limiting the number of turbines, and decommissioning plans. The direction the county is going as I write this will likely put the county at risk of costly lawsuits and wind development to occur without having any of those critical components.

3) Carbon sequestration pipelines – No matter what position you have, I believe the federal government will make this happen whether we like it or not. The supervisors have currently halted preparation of a pipeline ordinance until we see the fallout of cases that are currently in litigation. I believe this was a good decision and there will be time to prepare an ordinance.

4) Ambulance services – At this time, I have not seen information that has convinced me that a municipal ambulance service is the direction to go but I look forward to exploration on the topic. What is real is that several years ago AMR used to pay for dispatch services, housing ambulance vehicles, and Charles City firemen taking ambulances to scenes. This fiscal year, the city of Charles City and the county will pay AMR $427,450 and that amount will increase 3% for next fiscal year. Thankfully the Floyd County Medical Center is subsidizing the city and county a total of $103,000 for this fiscal year and $106,090 next fiscal year. An emergency medical services tax would certainly aid in keeping ambulance services at the current level for the next five years; 60% percent of the voters will decide the fate of that revenue source.

What other information should voters have about you?

I am running as a No Party candidate, just as I have for the past 20 years as your county auditor. I’m proud to have drafted (or co-drafted) several legislative proposals that have been signed into state law. As your county supervisor, I will continue to work in a non-partisan manner in the best interest of the county. I sincerely appreciate your vote.

Floyd County Supervisor

Boyd Campbell

Running unopposed for the open supervisor seat representing District 3, running as a Republican.

Hometown: Rudd; Age: 73; Family: Wife Debra, children Leah (Campbell) Badertscher, Niles, MI; Andrew Campbell, Pella, IA; Elizabeth (Campbell) Evers, Mankato, MN; and Dr. William Campbell, Chicago, IL.

Education: BS, finance and banking, Northwest Missouri State, Maryville, Missouri.

Experience: Current: 51 years of farming in Rudd-Nora Springs area; board member First Security Bank, Charles City, 34 years; president of the Rudd Evergreen Cemetery Assoc. Past: Taught at NIACC in the Vets Ag Program from 1975- 1979; financial consultant for the Farmers Home Administration; served on the following boards of directors: Farmer’s Coop, Rudd; Tri-County FS, Federal Land Bank, Mason City; past president of Floyd County Corn Grower’s Assoc. and the Soybean Producer’s Assoc.; served on the steering committee for building the new RRMR school building, president of the RRMR Booster Club and president of the Rudd Little League Assoc.; was a sales representative for Stine Soybean Seed and Garst Seed Corn.

Why are you seeking this office?

Having lived in Floyd County all my life, except for the four years of college, I have a strong desire to see this county continue to thrive and be successful in many areas.

What goals or priorities would you have for the office?

One of my priorities is to be an integral part of a Board of Supervisors that can work together for the good of all the citizens of Floyd county. One of my goals is to insure the long-term viability of this county.

What are the most important issues facing this office?

At this time, the wind turbine issue is critical, along with the CO2 pipeline. Another important issue, of course, is the budget.

What other information should voters have about you?

I enjoy working with people and look forward to this opportunity to serve the residents of Floyd county.

Floyd County Sheriff

Jeff Crooks

Running unopposed for reelection as Floyd County sheriff, running as No Party.

Hometown: Charles City. Age: 55. Family: Wife Kerry; daughters Connor, Kylah and Kelsi; son Chase.

Education: BA in Education from the University of Northern Iowa 1993.

Experience: Taught and coached at Pleasant Valley High School for 8 years 1994-2002; North Star Pump Service (part owner) 2002-2004; Floyd County Sheriff’s Office 2004-present (deputy sheriff 2004-2016, sheriff 2017-present).

Why are you seeking this office?

I have been with the Sheriff’s Office now for the last 20 years, with the last eight as the Sheriff. The one thing that I can honestly say is that I love what I do. I love working with the general public and serving the people of Floyd County.

I have 21 employees in the Sheriff’s Office and each and every one of those people bring something different to the table. I believe it is my job as the sheriff to bring out the best in that person, whether it’s a deputy or jailer, to best serve the citizens of Floyd County.

What goals or priorities do you have for the office?

Law enforcement is always changing and evolving with the times. I want to continue to move the department forward in a positive direction. I want the citizens of Floyd County to be proud of their local law enforcement and feel that they can depend on us to do the right things when called upon.

What are the most important issues facing your office?

Crime is always changing and law enforcement has to continually change with the times. The internet has brought a whole different type of crime and we are constantly training as a staff to be able to catch the new breed of criminals.

Another important issue in law enforcement and corrections is staffing. We have been fortunate in Floyd County that we have been able to fill our staffing needs, but we have definitely seen a major decline in applications when a position has come open.

What other information should voters have about you?

As the sheriff, I have overseen some major changes in the office. First, Floyd County has built a new Law Enforcement Center. We have gone from the old bar system on the fourth floor to a brand new state-of-the-art facility that is much safer for both the employees and the inmates.

As sheriff, I have also updated my deputies with body cameras and have updated our squad cars with in-car cameras and mobile data terminals (computers). A lot of the funding to do these updates came from grants and fundraising that myself and the deputies obtained.

The one thing I am most proud of as the sheriff is the addition of K9 Sirius. Our K9 program is 100% funded by donation and was spearheaded by Deputy Luke Chatfield, who does an outstanding job as a K9 handler.

Floyd County Attorney

Todd Prichard

Running unopposed for election as Floyd County attorney, after having been appointed in 2023 to fill a vacancy, running as a Democrat.

Hometown: Charles City. Age: 50. Family: Wife Ann, and three children, Katie, Emma and Owen.

Education: Law degree.

Experience: I have been the appointed county attorney for the last 18 months. I also served 10 years as the elected Iowa state representative for Floyd, Chickasaw and part of Cerro Gordo counties in the Legislature. I served as the assistant county attorney from 2010 to 2014.  Besides this, I run a private practice law office.

Why are you seeking this office?

I have experience in my law career in criminal justice and advising government entities. I want to make Floyd County a good place to live and raise a family.

What goals or priorities do you have for the office?

Maintaining public safety and focusing on reducing violent crime.

What are the most important issues facing your office?

Dealing with violence in the community and limiting the availability of drugs and illegal substances.

What other information should voters have about you?

I care deeply about the quality of life and safety of the Floyd County community.

Floyd County Auditor

Two candidates, Democrat Liz Michael Hamm and Republican Morrigan Miller, are running for the open county auditor seat.

Liz Michael Hamm

Hometown: Charles City. Age: 47. Family: Terry (husband), Dalton, Cally, Kaylee, Kaleb (children), Roger and Kathy Michael (parents), Doug & Brad Michael (brothers).

Education: Graduated from Charles City High School, AA in paralegal studies, and a BA in public administration and criminal justice.

Experience: More than 25 years working in public service; 12 years of working in finance.

Why are you seeking this office?

I am seeking this office because Floyd County matters to me! I have lived in Floyd County for 35 years of my life. This isn’t just a job to me. The residents of Floyd County are not just people. Many of them are friends and family.

I want to make a positive impact within Floyd County and address financial concerns plaguing our county. I want to make a difference. I stepped up to the plate and the voters want to see that change done by someone who knows them and the community.

What goals or priorities do you have for this office?

I plan to continue digitizing records within the Auditor’s Office; researching the feasibility of offering satellite voting stations again to our rural communities; researching and networking with various boards and entities to find reasonable resources for potential revenue for Floyd County; and working with the new Board of Supervisors to focus on team building and working together for the residents of Floyd County.

What are the most important issues facing this office?

Floyd County is facing many problems. One of the most important issues is electing a board of supervisors who understand that they need to work for the greater good of the citizens of Floyd County and work together. Our current board is extremely disjointed. I hope the new board can work as a team regardless of political party affiliation or personal feelings.

Secondly, the county needs to find new sources of revenue outside of tax dollars. We can’t expect tax dollars and residents of Floyd County to fund our budget.

What other information should voters have about you?

I am a hard-working farm kid who knows the value of a dollar. I have been that single mom faced with deciding between paying a bill or buying groceries. I work hard to provide for my family and I work harder for the residents of Floyd County every day.

If someone has a question and I don’t know the answer, I get them the answer and treat every individual with the same respect that I want to be treated.

Floyd County Auditor

Two candidates, Republican Morrigan Miller and Democrat Liz Michael Hamm, are running for the open county auditor seat.

Morrigan Miller

Hometown: Charles City. Family: Fiancé Dylan Montagne (Charles City) son of John and Deb Montagne (Charles City), Parents Jeremy and Charity Bidwell (Hampton), Siblings Izabel Bidwell (Charles City) and Glen Miller (Hampton)

Education: Bachelor of Science degree in agricultural business from ISU.

Experience: For the past five years, I have worked at Van Wall Equipment in Greene, as a service writer. I have been responsible for all billing needs within the service department, assisted in managing service department employees, and developed and maintained strong customer relationships by delivering exceptional customer service.

Why are you seeking this office?

I believe in the importance of transparency, accountability, and efficiency in government. My passion for public service and commitment to fiscal responsibility motivates me to ensure that our county’s financial operations are managed with integrity. I want to contribute to building a better future for our community by ensuring that taxpayer dollars are used effectively and responsibly.

What goals or priorities do you have for this office?

When elected, over the next four years, I will focus on several key priorities. First, I will implement initiatives aimed at increasing voter participation, such as working with schools in this county to educate students and help them become familiar enough to feel comfortable voting when they come of age.

Additionally, I plan to foster strong, collaborative relationships across local governments, enhancing communication and cooperation to address community needs more effectively. I also aspire to be a bipartisan voice, advocating for all community members, regardless of political affiliation.

By prioritizing transparency and accountability, I will ensure that our office not only meets but exceeds the expectations of our constituents. Together, we can build a more inclusive and responsive local government that truly reflects the values and needs of our community.

What are the most important issues facing this office?

I recognize that a variety of critical issues demand our attention and proactive management. First and foremost is budget management. Ensuring that our county’s finances are allocated efficiently and transparently is essential for maintaining public trust and effectively serving our community’s needs. This includes careful planning, monitoring expenditures, and seeking innovative ways to maximize taxpayer dollars.

Another significant issue is election integrity. Upholding the trust and confidence of our voters is paramount. This means implementing robust security measures, ensuring accurate record-keeping, and fostering an open dialogue with the community about the electoral process to address any concerns.

Additionally, we must navigate the ever-changing governmental regulations that impact our operations. Staying informed and adaptable in response to new laws and guidelines is crucial for compliance and effective governance. This requires ongoing training and collaboration with other local and state officials to ensure we are not only meeting regulations but also serving our constituents effectively.

What other information should voters have about you?

I bring a strong background in finance, management and customer service, equipping me with the skills necessary to manage our county’s resources effectively and serve the needs of our residents. I am dedicated to ongoing professional development and will stay informed about the latest developments in government finance and regulatory changes to ensure our county operates efficiently and transparently.

Voters can trust that I will approach this role with a strong ethical foundation and a commitment to serving our community. My goal is to create an environment where every voice is heard and valued.

With my dedication, experience, and integrity, I aim to build a brighter future for Floyd County.