ON THE BALLOT: Washington County unopposed

Name: Jack Seward Jr.

Address: West Chester

Phone: 319-461-9045 Email: festus.x96@gmail.com jseward@co.washington.ia.us

Family: Wife, four kids and stepchildren (three in Iowa), 13 total grandchildren, nine local.

Occupation: I consider the job of a county supervisor a full-time job, but I also find time to be a substitute school bus driver and help neighboring farmers with hog operations and seasonal harvest. My working background is entirely in public service. I retired from 30 years in law enforcement, 12 years with the Washington County Sheriff's Office; two years criminal investigator with theColorado Department of Revenue, Division of Gaming based in Cripple Creek, Colo.; 16 years Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation special agent in general criminal/major crimes. And I am a Vietnam Era veteran of the U.S. Army.

Political Experience: First ran for office in 2012 for Washington County Board of Supervisors, elected over Democrat opponent; ran for re-election in 2016 unopposed and won; member of Washington County Republican Central Committee since 2012 and have been a delegate to many county, district and state conventions since; member of the Iowa Republican State Platform Committee in 2014, 2016, and 2020; active with the Iowa State Association of Counties since being elected, attending nearly every available training and educational opportunity and participating in the process of determining the legislative priorities for ISAC and the ISAC Supervisors Association.

Why are you running for office?

Since taking office in 2013, the Board of Supervisors has held county operations costs down; resisted unnecessary regulations; provided much needed improvements to Emergency Management, 9-1-1 communications with law enforcement, fire and emergency medical services in the county. I have been a part of a team effort doing what I consider to be a good job for all the citizens of Washington County, and if re-elected, I'll keep doing the job.

What are your priorities if elected?

The issues we face are generally the same today – resisting unnecessary growth of government and regulations; respecting individual liberties and property rights; having public input on spending priorities; and being transparent with the reasons behind the decisions. I try to apply those principles when making decisions and see no reason to change. Moving to the top of the priority list is dealing with the proposed windfarm running through the heart of our county.

What would you like to see the county accomplish during the next several years if you are elected?

No. 1 – Finish the paved road and replace the bridge across the Skunk River at McKain's Access that has been in the planning stages since before I came into office. No. 2 – Replace, update and protect the county information technology infrastructure. No. 3 – Look at options to address the county office space needs, including finding a permanent home for Public Health. No. 4 – Continue to lobby the state to provide adequate funding to reduce the burden on local property tax dollars for mental health and disability services in the SEIL Region where I've been the vice chair since its inception in 2014.

What is your decision-making style, and how will you employ that if elected?

My entire career was based on listening to people and evaluating the information. In 2012, I promised to do a better job being available to anyone that wanted to be heard, and be transparent about why things were being done. I have a wide circle of friends and acquaintances from church, farmers, businesses and retired coffee drinkers all over the county. These discussions educate me about what is important today and about the history of how we got where we are. None cut me slack questioning me about things and reminding me who I work for and represent.