Over 50 Johnson County residents gathered in the Iowa City Senior Center on April 18 to offer questions to candidates for the board of supervisors’ general election in November. 

Board Chair Jon Green, former Iowa City school district board member Janet Godwin, and Jessica Andino, Johnson County Affordable Housing Coalition executive director, who are running in the board’s newly redistricted District 2, attended the forum hosted by the Johnson County League of Women Voters. 

Johnson County District 2 includes Solon, Hills, and the townships of Big Grove, Cedar, and Pleasant Valley. Attendees of the forum asked questions anonymously regarding local government control, budget priorities, and major projects on the horizon for the county. 

Early voting begins May 13 for the June 2 primary election. 

The candidates discussed the initial challenges that have resulted from the county’s districting system as a result of state legislation, giving the November election significant capacity for change in county government. 

Godwin said the district system, which has received negative feedback from board members, is an opportunity to represent Johnson County more equitably. 

“Solutions for core Central Iowa City may not be the right solutions in Solon and Lone Tree, Hills, and the unincorporated areas of the county,” Godwin said. “So there’s a real opportunity to be able to represent a full summary of the needs of District 2.”

RELATED: JoCo Supervisors face pushback from community members over proposed fiscal 2027 budget

The district system would divide the supervisors’ focus, and Green, the incumbent, said the fact that he has been appointed as board chair twice in a row illustrates his quality of leadership. 

“I don’t so much as provide leadership as I help the five of us figure out what the best solutions are to the challenges that come before us,” he said. 

The forum shifted to the candidate’s thoughts regarding potentially adding a county manager position, a separate administrative position appointed by the board. Green said adding the position would cause turbulence in addition to an election, including new districts. 

“I don’t support that change, both because of the disruption, but I think it critically misreads the political moment that we find ourselves in,” he said. “Hiring an unelected county administrator simply places more distance between the will of the voters and the execution of county government.”

Andino, who largely argued in favor of a change in structure at the county during the forum, said while change is necessary in county government, making decisions on a county manager position could only come after reviewing options after the election. 

She said the county has often stood against the Iowa legislature, one of the reasons she said it is “under attack.” Andino, who works with the Iowa Housing Partnership, said this statewide reach enables her to understand and navigate the county’s relationship with state lawmakers. 

“It’s extremely, extremely important that we reach across the aisle in order to make effective change here locally, or at least not have worsening outcomes that are being put on by the state,” she said. 

On April 16, Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a law banning the formation of community ID programs. Johnson County is the only county in Iowa with a community ID program. 

“We have a little bit of a joke amongst ourselves that the best way to get the legislature to advocate for something is to say that we’re against it, vice versa,” Green said. “With the exception of you folks in this room, the legislature knows what Johnson County is doing better than most of our own residents do.”

Each candidate reflected on the $100 million bond referendum on the ballot in November, which would provide funding for a renovation or reconstruction project for the Johnson County Sheriff’s Department and county jail. 

“If you look at the work that I’ve put into the jail, it’s been a two-year process, and we’re still not there,” Green said during his opening remarks. “I’m afraid that if we change horses midstream, it’s not going to get done.”

Godwin said the bond referendum is a supervisor project led by the current board, but that she would advocate for the project before being elected and lead its implementation after being elected. 

“We need to get 60 percent of the votes to pass this bond in November. That is a big number to get, and it’s going to require a sense of urgency, advocacy, voice leadership, presence in the community, advocating for this change,” she said. 

The forum closed with a question on the candidate’s leadership capabilities. Andino said she has a listen-first leadership style, allowing her to be hands-on in county government. 

“None of us are experts at everything, but as I look around the room today, there are a lot of experts in a lot of different fields here,” Andino said. “I also like to bring people up along with me, providing tools and opportunities.”

Green said his experience on the board has included working alongside strong leaders, making him capable of continued support for the board and county residents. 

“If you watch a meeting of the current board, which I chair, you will notice that I always speak last,” he said. “I want to hear what everyone has to say, facilitate the five of us getting to the best conclusion that we can. It isn’t easy, because the five of us are all big personalities with strong moral judgments.”