Johnson County Board of Supervisors incumbent Rod Sullivan, following changes to the way some Iowa counties’ district county government, held a reelection campaign launch event at The James Theater in Iowa City on Feb. 25.

Despite holding elections in 2024, Sullivan’s campaign follows state-level changes to county voting processes. A law removed the ability for Johnson, Story, and Black Hawk County residents to vote for supervisors at-large. Instead, residents will vote within their specific districts.

The event welcomed roughly 60 people, mostly from Iowa City, along with Iowa City singer Dave Moore. Two speeches were given by Sullivan and his daughter, Marie Hayes-Clowers.

Sullivan represents Johnson County District Four, which encompasses much of northern and most of eastern Iowa City. 

Districts Two, Three, and Four will have a two-year term, and Districts One and Five will have four-year terms, according to the Board of Supervisors website.

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The three counties impacted by the redistricting law are home to Iowa’s three regent universities: the University of Iowa, Iowa State University, and the University of Northern Iowa. 

Sullivan cites this redistricting as one of the pressing issues facing the three regent counties. 

“We spend most of our time fighting the state and federal government, and it shouldn’t be that way, but it is. And so we have a lot of work to do to just keep things the way that we want them to be,” he said.

Sullivan said this was not the first time the Republican-majority legislature has placed limits on the county. 

On Jan. 1, 2017, the county voted to increase the minimum wage to $10.10 an hour. Later in March, then-Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad signed House File 295, which made the county minimum wage bill void. 

“Several years ago, we were the first county in Iowa to raise the minimum wage, and it made a huge difference,” he said. “But the state, two years later, undid that. And so they actually lowered the wage for a lot of workers. So that’s just probably the biggest example of them undoing things we’ve done.”

During his speech, Sullivan cited his past accomplishments on the board, including increasing funding for affordable housing, protecting nature through the expansion of public land, creating a human rights ordinance, implementing rural sirens, and more.

Sullivan described himself as the hardest-working board member.

“You’re more likely to see me at community events than anybody else,” he said. “To put it out plainly, I think I outwork everybody. And I think that matters, and I think it’s also going to matter more in the next three years.”

His focus issues include affordable housing availability, mental health support, and combating climate change. He encourages his supporters to be kind to his opposition, which includes incumbent member V Fixmer-Oraiz, who launched their campaign for District Four in late January. 

“Please be kind to everybody, or to my opponent,” Sullivan said. “In November, we’ve got to have everybody, every single person, so we can’t be making enemies now. So please, I ask you to keep everything on the up and up, and let’s talk about the good things, not the bad things.”

Sullivan’s family also pitched in to show their support for his campaign. His daughter, Hayes-Clowers, called him a “man of integrity” who fights for his community.

“He doesn’t just fight for his own children, but for every child,” Hayes-Clowers said. “For families, for opportunity, for second grade. Leadership isn’t about perfection. It’s about consistency, compassion, and courage. And I have seen him hold over.” 

Other supervisor candidates came to show support as well. Sue Dvorsky, a Democrat running for District Three and former chair of the Iowa Democratic Party alongside her husband Bob Dvorsky, who was a former member of the Iowa Senate, said they have known Sullivan and his wife, Melissa, for years. 

“I first knew him through his work,” Sue Dvorsky said. “He was a social worker before he became a supervisor. But honestly, the work that he did as a social worker really carried over into the work that he’s done for 20 years on the Board of Supervisors.”

Sue Dvorsky said Sullivan’s been the progressive voice in the district for over two decades, although she is disappointed that she can no longer vote for him due to the legislative changes. 

“We can’t vote for him anymore because we live in Coralville, and the state saw fit to take away our right to vote for five supervisors across the county,” she said.  

The couple said Johnson County is facing a very challenging transition due to the funding cuts made by the state government. 

The supervisors had previously voiced concerns over proposed budget cuts ahead of the legislative session.

Sue Dvorsky said she hopes to serve alongside Sullivan once the elections are done. 

Bob Dvorsky said he hopes to see an expansion of services throughout the county rather than just specific parts, but a main concern for the Dvorskys is the new changes to the county elections and how the supervisors will navigate their roles.  

“This is going to cause a fundamental change in how the Board of Supervisors relates to the people in the county,” Sue Dvorsky said. “I have to represent my district, but also, I have an obligation to work with the other four who are all representing their districts. We have to figure out how we’re going to represent the county as a whole. And that’s brand new. It’s never happened. We don’t know, there’s no path for it.”