Schwickerath running again for Floyd County supervisor

By Bob Steenson, bsteenson@charlescitypress.com

A familiar face is running for what to him is a familiar seat in Floyd County elections this fall.

Roy Schwickerath has announced he is running for one of the two open spots on the Board of Supervisors in the election to take place Nov. 6.

Schwickerath served as a county supervisor from 2013 through 2016, but lost a bid for re-election in the 2016 race to current Supervisor Linda Tjaden.

Schwickerath, a Democrat, said he wasn’t sure why he wasn’t re-elected. He may have just been swept up in the tide of Republicans winning office that year, he said. Tjaden is a Republican.

“I don’t know,” he said. “I had so many people surprised that I lost, who thought I did a good job while I was there. I’ve had a lot of people who encouraged me to run again, and I feel it’s a good thing to do.”

Schwickerath said one issue that was left undone when he left the board was the situation with the county courthouse and the county jail.

“The courthouse itself needs major renovations,” he said, “and the jail is non-compliant. The LEC (law enforcement center) may be the solution.”

The current county board is in the middle of deciding whether to present a potential design plan to the voters for a bond referendum to finance construction of a new $12 million to $13 million law enforcement center that would include a county jail and sheriff’s department offices and would be attached to the courthouse.

Included in the plan could be renovation of the courthouse including new windows, new heating and air-conditioning, and new restrooms and elevators.

Schwickerath said he led the committee that was looking at new jail options when he was on the board, and even through there is the possibility that a referendum could be held yet this year before he could take office, he would still like to be involved in the project going forward.

His background in public safety would help on that project, he said.

Schwickerath served as a firefighter for 32 years — six years as a volunteer then 26 years full time, including the last 14 as the city fire chief. He retired as chief in 2012.

He said Floyd County is in pretty good shape financially, with a fairly stable property tax levy and a healthy reserve.

“I believe in keeping taxes on an even keel, reducing them when we can, but not pogo-sticking up and down from year to year,” he said.

Voters are looking for someone who will listen to them, he said.

“Everyone wants to be represented — they want to be heard. They want you to at least listen to their opinion. Not everyone can win every time. I use logic, common sense — I listen and put myself in other people’s shoes.

“I feel I had a good rapport — with people in the county, other elected officials, business people, other communities in the county and other counties.”

Schwickerath said that when he started his term as supervisor, “I came into it with a lot of knowledge on how government worked and how government functioned.”

“I learned a lot in my four years while I was there as a supervisor how the county functioned and how the supervisors fit into that, and so I guess I feel like I’ve got a lot to offer,” he said.

Schwickerath, age 61, said he has lived in Charles City since he was 7 and graduated from high school here. He is retired and is married to wife Deb, who teaches second grade in Clarksville. They have three grown children and five grandchildren.

One seat on the county board will be open next year for sure, with the announcement recently by Supervisor Mark Kuhn that he will not seek re-election.

The other supervisor whose seat is up this year, Doug Kamm, has not announced whether he will run again. Kamm, a Republican, is finishing his second four-year term on the board.

Schwickerath said he had talked with Kuhn, a fellow Democrat, about running this year before Kuhn made his announcement, and Kuhn encouraged him to run.

Schwickerath is currently the only declared candidate for county supervisor.

Actual filing for county offices opens March 5 and closes March 28 to be included in the party primaries June 5. Filing dates for candidates who are not running on a party ticket are Aug. 6-29.

Floyd County seats open this election are the two supervisor positions, county attorney, county recorder and county treasurer.