ON THE BALLOT: Jefferson County Supervisor

Keith Vlademar

Occupation: Retired from the Iowa Department of Transportation

Position: District land surveyor

Political Experience: None

Family: One wife and her two dogs. Married 53 years and known each other for 67 years.

Why are you running for office?

I was encouraged to run for this office, which there are two 'chairs” up for voting on, based on the values I have, my honesty and integrity.

What are your priorities if elected?

My priorities are simple, to represent the rural residents of Jefferson County. I cannot stand by and watch other people force their will on a rural area. As the saying goes: I may not win, but at least I tried.

Example: Over the years, I have come to see that cities will force their will on the rural residents. If a city can do that, then the rural residents should have the same rights inside of a city.

Do you think the county has done well in managing taxpayer money, and if not, how would you have spent it differently?

I cannot see any 'mismanagement” by current or past county supervisors. There is only so much money to go around.

Keep in mind, the supervisors review and approve the budgets of other county offices, which are not under the supervisors' control. They work with these other county offices to stay within the revenue coming in.

I wish to continue this fiscal responsibility.

If you are elected to office in November, how should we judge whether your time in office has been a success at the end of those four years?

I am not sure how the residents should judge me. The way to judge a person in a public position is by their actions as a whole.

A position or action taken by me will be liked by one person and objectionable to another. One of the comments I received when I retired from the D.O.T. was ”you looked out for the D.O.T.” This is the only way I know how to work or think.