Incumbent Democrat Jon Green, of Lone Tree, and Republican Phil Hemingway, of Lincoln Township, will face off in the Nov. 3 Johnson County supervisor election after prevailing in their respective party primary elections on Tuesday.
Green won the District 2 Democratic primary by a 19 point margin over challengers Jessica Andino, of Iowa City, and Janet Godwin, of Scott Township, garnering 49% of the vote on Tuesday, according to unofficial results. Hemingway was the only Republican competing for the District 2 seat and garnered 98% of the vote.
Andino followed Green with 30% of the vote and Godwin came in last with 20%.
A total of 5,373 votes were cast in Tuesday’s primary election for the 2nd district seat, 4,289 cast in the Democratic Primary, and 1,084 in the Republican primary in the second district, according to unofficial results.
The primary comes as a new state law, Senate File 75, reshapes the Johnson County Board of Supervisors.
The law required Johnson, Story, and Black Hawk Counties to adopt a supervisor district system for their elections. Only candidates who live in the district can run for the seat, and only district residents can vote.
If they prevail in the November general election, candidates elected in Districts 2-4 will have a two-year term, and those elected to Districts 1 and 5 seats will have a four-year term.
Green ready to get new jail bond passed
Green, an incumbent and current board of supervisors chair, previously told the Press-Citizen he is running to “continue providing steady leadership during a tumultuous time for Johnson County.” Green pointed to a flurry of bills that have targeted Johnson County from the Iowa Legislature, including a bill that changed how the supervisors are elected.
Green said his biggest priority is to help construct a new jail and sheriff’s office.
“I’ve been doing to prepare and vet the jail proposal that will be on the November ballot,” Green said. “I was also re-elected because my colleagues know I can get us through tough decisions effectively. We can tackle big issues like the jail because I’m able to do the quiet work that ensures our meetings yield collaborative results. “
Green has been on the board since 2021 and previously served as the mayor of Lone Tree from 2018 to 2019 and a member of the State Central Committee for the Iowa Democratic Party from 2018 to 2018.
Andino pledges focus on housing, transparency
Andino a political newcomer is currently the executive director of the Johnson County Affordable Housing Coalition and holds a Masters of Public Health from the University of Iowa. Andino ran on improving affordable housing and availability in Johnson County.
“From young adults trying to stay in the community they grew up in, to working families, to aging seniors seeking stability, people need housing options that meet them at every stage of life,” Andino previously told the Press-Citizen. “Housing is where jobs go to sleep at night. If elected, I will prioritize expanding and preserving housing across the spectrum.”
Godwin ran on delivering for all Johnson County residents
Godwin, the retired CEO of ACT, holds a master’s in English from the University of Iowa and has lived in Johnson County for 39 years. Godwin ran on providing practical, common-sense leadership to all Johnson County residents.
“Johnson County is not one-size-fits-all — what works in downtown Iowa City doesn’t always work in the rest of the county,” Godwin previously told the Press-Citizen. “We need leadership that listens and responds to those differences.”
Hemingway running to make Johnson County more affordable
Hemingway is the lone Republican vying for the District 2 seat. He is running to “bring fiscal oversight and a blue-collar work ethic to the board,” Hemmingway previously told the Press-Citizen. Hemingway also said affordability in Johnson County is a key priority for his campaign.
“As a lifelong resident and small business owner, I know the challenges facing our community,” Hemingway said. “Johnson County is one of the most expensive places to live in Iowa. It is important to do everything in our power to make it affordable for all of our residents.”
Hemingway is a mechanic and graduated from West Branch High School. He previously served on the Iowa City Community School District school board from 2015 to 2019.
Hemmingway is excited to head into the November general election after running a previous campaign for the Board of Supervisor’s in 2022 that was unsuccessful.
“It’s going to be exciting this year and it’s going to be interesting that all five supervisors are going to the voters at once,” Hemmingway told the Press-Citizen on Tuesday, June 2.
Liam Halawith covers Johnson County local government and public safety for the Press-Citizen. Reach him by email at lhalawith@registermedia.com. Follow him on X at @liam_halawith.
This article originally appeared on Iowa City Press-Citizen: Green, Hemingway to battle for Dist. 2 Johnson Co. supervisor seat
Reporting by Liam Halawith, Iowa City Press-Citizen / Iowa City Press-Citizen
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