Lindeen, Heaton turn back challengers

By BROOKS TAYLOR

Mt. Pleasant News

When it comes to the ballot box, it greatly helps to be a Republican if running for public office in Henry County.

Incumbent county Supervisor Marc Lindeen of Mt. Pleasant is well aware of that.

?You never know what to expect,? Lindeen said after watching the tally that showed him with a 4,096-2,508 (62-38 percent) victory over Democrat challenger Mary Hoyer of Salem. ?I don?t take anything for granted. I think one of the big factors (in his victory) is that we have more registered Republicans (than Democrats) in Henry County.?

Joining Lindeen as a re-elected incumbent is State Rep. Dave Heaton, a Republican from Mt. Pleasant. Heaton, who represents the 84th district, won the Henry County vote, 4,979-1,106 over challenger Lee Harder of Hillsboro. Heaton also claimed similar size wins in Washington, Jefferson and Lee counties, portions of which comprise the remainder of his district.

Heaton said he appreciates the strong support from his district. ?I have always had strong support from my district. I am grateful the people continue to have confidence in me. I consider myself the voice of the people in my district. That is what it is all about.?

Lindeen, who is finishing up his 16th year as a county supervisor, said the position carries a lot of responsibility. ?I always listen to what people have to say. I think this job is very humbling because you are affecting people?s lives with the decisions you make.?

Hoyer said she has no regrets in her first run for public office.

?My congratulations to Marc,? she began. ?I am glad that the county had a chance to discuss some of the issues that this campaign raised, and I appreciate the opportunities the Mt. Pleasant News, KILJ and the Chamber of Commerce gave us to have such a conversation.

?I couldn?t have asked for better support from the many people who helped me,? she continued, ?and am especially appreciative of my husband who has always believed in me.?

Heaton said he is looking forward to the next state legislative session. ?Every session has its challenges and this will be no different. We will have a Republican House, Democratic Senate and Republican governor, so the ?legs of the stool? will be the same as last year. The issues, however, will be different.?

Although the official vote tally is not known, close to 7,000 of Henry County?s 14,106 registered voters cast ballot. Early and absentee balloting accounted for 2,923 of the voters, meaning that roughly 41 percent of the votes were cast early.

In the largest surprise, the local option sales tax (LOST) referendum was defeated in Mt. Pleasant (1,184-1,116), New London (327-272), Olds (21-20) and Coppock (3-1). The current LOST expires on Dec. 31, 2015, and if the communities in which the measure was defeated Tuesday want to continue the tax, LOST will have to be put to a vote again.

LOST constitutes one cent of the state?s seven-cent sales tax. All of the LOST revenue is put in a fund and distributed to communities and rural areas in which the measure has been passed. Mt. Pleasant has received LOST funds for a decade and many of the major street projects (Washington, Grand and Iris to name a few) have been paid from LOST receipts.

If the city does not continue to receive LOST funds, it is possible that either property taxes would have to increase or projects and services reduced.

The sales tax did pass in Winfield (184-108), Mt. Union (23-8), Wayland (182-139), Westwood (52-14), Rome (11-5), Salem (109-47), Hillsboro (37-24) and the rural, unincorporated portion of the county (1,183-957).

In national and statewide races, Republican candidates carried the county. U.S. Senate-elect Joni Ernst (the first woman elected by Iowans to national office) toppled Bruce Braley, 4,011-2,317.

Iowa?s incumbent gubernatorial team of Terry Branstad and Kim Reynolds scored a 4,464-2,060 victory over Jack Hatch and Monica Vernon.

Republican Mariannette Miller-Meeks carried the county (3,866-2,801) in her attempt to unseat incumbent Second District Congressman Dave Loebsack, but Loebsack retained his seat by a 53-47 percent margin.

Following is how the county voted in other statewide races.

Secretary of State ? Paul Pate, R, 3,706, Brad Anderson, D, 2,236;

State Auditor ? Mary Mosiman, R, 4,142, Johnathan Neiderbach, D, 2,097;

State Treasurer ? Sam Clovis, R, 3,332; Michael L. Fitzgerald, D, 2,878;

Secretary of Agriculture ? Bill Northey, R, 4,525, Sherrie Taha, D, 1,684;

Attorney General ? Adam Gregg, R, 3,487, Tom Miller, D, 2,963.

Republican county officials Ana Lair (treasurer), Shirley Wandling (recorder) and Darin Stater (attorney) did not have opposition.

Incumbents Carmen Heaton and Sally Olson were re-elected, without opposition, to the Henry County Health Center Board of Trustees.

In two city council elections, Mallery Ludwig (41 votes) and Terri Reiner (25 votes) were elected to the Hillsboro City Council and Kathy Nelson (51 votes) was elected at Winfield.

Votes are unofficial until next week?s canvass by the Henry County Board of Supervisors.