Des Moines east-sider Heather Jones-Brown is running for a seat on the Polk County Board of Supervisors.
Jones-Brown, who works as the assistant chief diversity officer for staff equity at Grinnell College, announced her candidacy Feb. 22 in the 2026 election to represent Polk County District 4, a seat currently held by outgoing veteran supervisor Tom Hockensmith. Hockensmith, a Democrat, has served on the board since January 2003, representing east Des Moines, parts of southeast Des Moines, Pleasant Hill, Runnells, Camp Township, and Four Mile Township.
Democratic Des Moines City Council member Joe Gatto announced his bid for the District 4 seat last August.
Jones-Brown, also a Democrat, is running to solve problems and improve lives for Polk County residents, she said in a statement.
“I’m running because public service at the county level touches people’s lives in meaningful and lasting ways,” she wrote. “From clean water and transportation to mental health services and community investment, county government helps our community thrive.”
Jones-Brown said decisions by county government directly impact people’s lives. She told the Des Moines Register that, if elected, she wants to prioritize mental health services and water quality.
“I lead with preparation and follow-through, listening before deciding, accountability without blame, and a focus on long-term outcomes,” Jones-Brown wrote in her statement. “Polk County deserves leadership that is steady, thoughtful, and grounded in the real experiences of the people who live here.”
Jones-Brown earned a bachelor’s degree in political science/international relations from William Jewell College and a master’s degree in business leadership from William Penn University. Jones-Brown serves on boards and committees, including the executive committee of the NAACP Des Moines Branch, the Des Moines YMCA Camp Advisory Board and the Epsilon Theta Sigma Chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.
Other seats in the 2026 election are District 5, held by Angela Connolly, and District 1, held by Matt McCoy, who announced his reelection bid in November.
The primary election is June 2 and the general election, Nov. 3. Hockensmith’s term will end when the new supervisor is sworn in in early January 2027.
Virginia Barreda is the Des Moines city government reporter for the Register. She can be reached at vbarreda@dmreg.com.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Heather Jones-Brown announces election bid for Polk County supervisor
Reporting by Virginia Barreda, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
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