Mandi Remington has accomplished much in a short time
On June 2, we will hold a primary election that includes Johnson County supervisors. Because Republicans have decided that three counties in Iowa are no longer permitted to decide whether or not to use districts for supervisors, we have had our 2024 local election undone.
Mandi Remington, who has served just over a year in office, is running to keep her seat in District 5. I’ve known Mandi for several years, first as a community organizer, then as a candidate, now as a supervisor. She is everything we need in local office: deeply invested in the community, connected with the “boots on the ground” organizations from unions to nonprofits to neighborhood associations, and actively seeking out opportunities to make Johnson County a safer, more welcoming community.
In her brief tenure, she has built the foundation for a field mediation program developed between Johnson County, Dignity Best Practices, the city of Iowa City, and community partners, which will launch in January 2027. I want her to see this launch through and see what else she will do for Johnson County. I hope District 5 Democrats will join me in voting for Mandi Remington on or before June 2.
Kelcey Patrick-Ferree, Iowa City
Wahls can make a difference thanks to his deep understanding of issues
I’ve known Zach Wahls since he was a boy. He is committed to fighting for all of Iowa’s families, whatever they look like, and he’s got the smarts, the drive, and the energy to do it. He has a deep understanding of Iowa’s and the nation’s challenges and the policy levers available to address them. He’s represented a state Senate district with a significant rural element as well as an urban element and he has been committed to understanding the issues all of his constituents face.
It’s time for a new generation of Democrats in Washington. I’ll be voting for Zach Wahls for U.S. Senate, and I hope you’ll join me.
Tom Rocklin, Iowa City
Rod Sullivan always engages with constituents
I have known Rod Sullivan for over 30 years, personally and professionally. In that time, I have witnessed firsthand his deep commitment to his family, his friends, and his community.
Many who know me know that I am a local — born and raised in Iowa City — and have strong opinions regarding local leadership, as most residents do. Like most people, I haven’t always agreed with every decision made by our elected officials — but what sets Sullivan apart is the quality of the conversation. At every step of his tenure as supervisor, he has engaged with me and others with genuine intentionality and thoughtfulness, even when we haven’t seen eye to eye.
I value the expertise he brings to the role, the passion with which he serves his constituents, and the consistency of his leadership. In this race, Rod Sullivan is the right person for the job.
Missie Forbes, Iowa City
Sullivan has delivered results on mental health and substance use care
I am writing in support of Rod Sullivan for county supervisor in District 4. I have had the pleasure and privilege of working closely with Rod over the past 20 years or so through the Johnson County System of Care group. Sullivan was one of the founding members of that group which focuses on enhancing services for those with mental health and substance use disorders in our community. My sense is that without his ongoing passion and commitment to these issues, and his know-how and ability to actually get things done, it would not still be going stronger than ever today, and our community would not have the benefits of some of its most impactful achievements, including the Guidelink Center.
It is regrettable that we have to choose among hard-working incumbents in this race, but given that we do, I can’t think of anyone I would rather see in that role, and I hope that like me, you will cast your vote for Rod Sullivan on or before the June 2 primary election and encourage others within the district to do the same.
Dr. Michael Flaum, Iowa City
Rod Sullivan’s resume earns him another term
I have voted in the past for both of the incumbent Johnson County supervisors running in District 4.
Now, due to the Republican-controlled Legislature’s heavy-handed maneuvering, I have to choose between the two of them.
Given that choice, I’m voting for Rod Sullivan. He has a deep understanding of the unglamorous nuts and bolts of county government: taxes, road funding, food systems, watershed protection, and rural land use. He’s been a champion of civil rights, transparency, and workers’ rights. He’s been an innovator; i.e., the county minimum wage, GuideLink Center, the community ID. He treats the job of supervisor as a full-time occupation.
Rod Sullivan is a solid choice who has earned another term.
David Leshtz, Iowa City
Joe Reilly has the work ethic to succeed in office
I recommend my friend and colleague, Joe Reilly, for the Johnson County Board of Supervisors. Reilly is running as a Democrat in District 5 of Iowa City and University Heights.
I have known Joe for four years through our work on the Iowa City Pride Committee. He is consistently kind, intelligent, thoughtful, humble, and incredibly resourceful. His knowledge of the intricacies of local governments and politics is vast. He has good working relationships with so many organizations, officials and businesses in the Iowa City, Coralville and North Liberty communities that he would be able to transition from Iowa City Night Mayor to County Supervisor seamlessly.
I value Reilly’s opinions and expertise. He is incredibly hard-working, disciplined and organized. He is always the first person to show up for any event and is willing to clean up after.
He is a great listener and teacher. His calm demeanor helps keep the Pride meetings running smoothly. His work ethic, knowledge of the county and willingness to listen and learn from all would make him an amazing addition to the Johnson County Board of Supervisors. Please vote for Joe for Jo. Co.!
Bridget Malone, Coralville
Sullivan has excelled in his job and should continue
The Iowa Legislature passed Senate File 75 last year, which requires the three counties with regents universities to elect their supervisors by district rather than at large.
Consequently, two of our excellent county supervisors, Rod Sullivan and V Fixmer-Oraiz, have been forced into opposing one another in the Democratic primary. I have known Rod Sullivan for a couple of decades to be a person of honesty and integrity who has championed the rights of minorities, and advocated for affordable housing, immigrant rights, and effective common-sense government. I have seen him at demonstrations and protests, ecumenical religious events, out walking his dog, playing with a grandchild, at the County Fair, at neighborhood picnics, at the Statehouse and the Courthouse. He knows us and has been seasoned by many years of public service, so his deep and detailed memory is an asset to all the supervisors and every citizen of our county.
He is fair-minded. When I accused the Republicans of torpedoing a state bill that would have, years ago, given many new rights to residents of mobile home parks, he reminded me that a few Democrats (for the worst of reasons) were also responsible. Sullivan has empathy; he gets us.
John McKinstry, Iowa City
Over his life, I’ve seen Zach Wahls’ commitment to service
I have known Zach Wahls since his elementary school years when his family joined our church and he was in Scouts with my sons. I was privy to some of the family travails around his mother’s progressive disability and the social challenges of having a nontraditional family. I witnessed extraordinary family discussions around the importance of values. Zach acted in accordance with those values at a level beyond his years. I have seen him carrying his mother’s specialized chairs and equipment while the other kids continued fun activities. I have seen him stand up for gay Scouts, even establishing a national organization, Scouting for All, to address inclusion. I have seen him start a tutoring service for fellow struggling students as a high schooler. All this was as a kid himself!
The values of accepting responsibility, expecting to work hard, commitment to family and community, respecting all people, seeing a problem and looking for solutions, continue to be apparent in his legislative years. As a state senator he was immediately proactive, evidenced by his tenacious support for mobile home owners whose affordable homes were made unaffordable by outside investors. He accepted leadership positions unheard of for a freshman.
He authored, sponsored, or co-sponsor hundreds of bills to address concerns. Another thing. Consistent with Zach’s commitment to campaign finance reform, he is not accepting dark money. His opponent has accepted over $8 million from a national PAC for a huge advertising blitz just before these primaries. Are we going to let D.C. buy our election?
True to form, Zach is taking the harder road which may handicap him in this race but leaves him uncompromised. Given difficult choices, he sticks to the values learned in church, Scouts, and family which he now applies to public service. It may seem that Zach and his opponent are running on similar platforms, but I think the contrast is significant. I suggest that we need a champion with a track record of putting values into action.
Carolyn Johnson, Iowa City
Some gave all
As we prepare to solemnly recognize Memorial Day, we need to think about those who sacrificed everything in defense of freedom and liberty. We should be thankful to all who have served our country and especially to those who gave “that last full measure,” as Lincoln expressed at Gettysburg. They made the United States the greatest country on earth, one we have had the privilege in which to live. These patriots put ‘service to country’ ahead of ‘service to self’ which has, sadly, become too apparent recently.
As we prepare to celebrate 250 years as a nation, let us remember the conflicts and the struggles it took to make this a country where ‘all men (and women) were created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness’.
The challenge for us today is will we maintain these “rights we prize” and preserve them for all, or will we succumb to the current selfish desire to afford these rights only to the some?
Larry Hodgden, Tipton
Brad Sherman should be Iowa’s next governor
The field of candidates is crowded for a fast approaching June 2 primary, and many are just now considering who they want to support.
Brad Sherman was the first to enter the race. Before Gov. Kim Reynolds had even decided if she was running for re-election, he had a vision for Iowa and how he could fight for freedom. The first thing that caught my eye about his campaign was his passion for fighting human trafficking. Iowa, we, unfortunately are a high traffic area for this sickening, evil practice of selling people. Sherman recognized this before other candidates and has a plan to increase resources to fight this evil.
He has a background in a variety of work, including construction, nonprofit leadership, ministry and as a state representative. When working for Iowa, he will put his vast experience to work. In addition to fighting human trafficking he will work to protect medical freedom, family farms and put Iowans first by restoring the foundations of freedom. I have known Sherman for years and know that he will fight hard for Iowa every step of the way.
Anne Marie Gregory, Iowa City
This article originally appeared on Iowa City Press-Citizen: Readers explain their picks for JoCo supervisor, US senator | Letters
Reporting by Letters to the editor, Iowa City Press-Citizen / Iowa City Press-Citizen
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
