Two candidates competing for District 2 supervisor

KALONA — Republican voters in Kalona and Richmond will decide the outcome of the only contested local race on a Washington County ballot next week.

The winner of the June 4 primary will almost certainly have a ticket to victory come November’s general election, with no Democratic candidates entered in the race to oppose them.

The primary race for District 2 Supervisor is between 11-year incumbent Bob Yoder and challenger Jake Snider, a current member of the Mid-Prairie school board also known for his construction, snow removal and beekeeping businesses. If elected, he plans to step down from the school board, and possibly step back from his construction work as needed to make time for county affairs.

In interviews, both named similar priorities for county decision-makers in the next four years: namely careful budgeting decisions and economic growth. Their framing of the issues differs somewhat, though.

Yoder said Washington County needed to worry most about inflation: declining spending power not only limits the usefulness of county dollars, it raises the impact of taxes — to gather those dollars — on community members, who find their own households facing tighter margins for the same reason.

“It affects everybody, from the Board of Supervisors to somebody going to get groceries,” he said. “The cost has gone up for the county to provide services, but our tax collection, our income — however you want to word that — hasn’t gone up with it. It’s really getting to be a problem.”

As for economic growth, Yoder said the county should keep partnering with organizations, like the Washington Economic Development Group, to attract businesses. He also said consistent funding for top-notch emergency services would attract residents, who in turn would work at and start more small businesses.

While Snider also said careful budgeting was a priority, he said he’d achieve goals by bringing a new mindset to the board, and a newfound willingness to rock the boat.

“I think that there are some opportunities to look at how the county does its budgeting, and I think there’s some ways to improve that, that will save the county money,” he said. “I think it’s a motivation thing, really. There’s a lot of people that want to go through the motions or whatever.”

The challenger candidate hopes to bring new ideas to economic matters as well. He said the county should partner with schools and facilitate state and regional initiatives to help address labor shortages, an issue he said represented the greatest threat to local job-makers.

Despite their similar priorities, the candidates offered sharply contrasting messages in their pitches to voters.

Snider said he sensed a growing disconnect between his opponent and the voting public. He argues Yoder needed to be more vocal in opposing a proposed wind turbine project, which has seemingly petered out since it was last discussed by supervisors in March, and claims the current vice chair is underprepared at meetings.

“Bob is like, the nicest guy in the world, but … Kalona and the surrounding area, we don’t really have anybody advocating for us,” he said. “We have somebody that just goes through the motions.”

Yoder, meanwhile, seeks to defend the seat he’s held since 2013. He said he saw the office as not just an advocate for community members, but also a listening ear.

“I do speak up at meetings some, (but) I find being a better listener is better leadership than seeing how much talking you can do,” he said. “I would rather do more listening than a lot of talking.”

Asked why voters should pick him, Yoder said his 11 years of experience on the board were tough to beat.

“A lot of it is, I’ve developed quite a few contacts, I know quite a few people,” he said. “Knowing how a lot of this stuff works is quite an item … I have to look at my district and the county as a whole. How do these people feel, what’s the best for them? My goal is to provide leadership for Washington County that’s in the county and residents’ best interest.”

Snider, meanwhile, said his school board service proved an ability to work with others. Such an appeal pairs with that of a fresh, new perspective for the local government’s chief executive office.

“I can sit down at the table with a lot of different points of view, and swing things in the right direction,” he said. “If they want to see new and revitalized energy, especially for District 2, there’s only one way to vote.”

Their respective campaign trails look quite different as well.

Snider’s candidacy has mostly spread by word-of-mouth, rather than active campaigning efforts. The candidate says he’s been rather laid back in his effort to get out the vote — he didn’t start putting signs in the ground until about a week and a half before the election.

“I haven’t done a bunch,” he said. “I’ve made some phone calls to some of the people that voted in the primaries last time … at the same time, I’m not sure that you have to go out and spend $5,000 on signs and put on a big show.”

Yoder has run much like he has in years past. The incumbent sought out casual conversations with constituents around the area in coffee shops and on sidewalks, and has taken opportunities to speak to large groups at Optimist Club meetings and similar events.

“One-on-one and small groups is always easiest for me, but you try to be out there, try to make your name known,” he said. “Just going to coffee and listening to people, listening to their input.”

Comments: Kalen.McCain@southeastiowaunion.com