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Blaisdell: ‘Listening to constituents a priority’

Blaisdell

A Marshall County Board of Supervisor candidate on the Democratic ticket said she is developing her campaign platform by listening to residents. Sue Blaisdell, a Marshalltown resident, told the Times-Republican in a recent interview a number of Marshalltown and county residents have told her they are concerned the Marshall County Board of Supervisors have yet to contribute financially to the building of the Iowa River Trail, a 34-mile multi-purpose trail which will eventually connect Marshalltown, Albion, Liscomb, Union, Gifford, Eldora and Steamboat Rock. The former Iowa River Rail corridor has been secured, TRAILS, Inc, a Marshalltown-based volunteer group made up of Central Iowans and others whose mission is to see the trail paved from Marshalltown to the Marshall County/Hardin County line, have secured enough funds to see the trail paved from Wilson Circle to Summit Street. (A separate Hardin County volunteer group is at work to develop the IRT in that county). TRAILS, Inc. has been successful receiving public grants, private contributions and more, including a Marshalltown City Council contribution of $30,000. The supervisors have gone on record in support of the trail, but have declined funding it, citing concerns about declining commodity prices impacting farmers, among others.

Blaisdell will face fellow Democratic candidates Howard Stewart and Thomas Thurston in the June 5 primary. The top two vote getters will go up against Republican incumbents Bill Patten and David Thompson in the Nov. 6 general election.

“I am running for supervisor because the current board is not forward-thinking in addressing the needs of young people in Marshall County,” she said. “Our county can become healthier and more economically vibrant with some strategic investment, or it can die by repeatedly cutting taxes and services.”

Blaisdell also cited other concerns in a email to the Times-Republican: “Environmental issues, such as clean water, manure, and sewage management, are important to the health of our communities. So is having adequate housing close enough to employment and necessary shopping,” she said. “So is having a public safety system helping all residents. For example, the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office could help control a mentally deranged individual until the mental health care part of the system can take over.”

Blaisdell and family have lived in Marshalltown since 2002.

She is making her second run for supervisor, having lost in the November, 2014 general election to Patten and Thompson.

Blaisdell has also campaigned on platforms of promoting locally grown and organic agriculture through community gardening initiatives. For more information, contact Blaisdell at sueblaisdell2014@gmail.com.

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Contact Mike Donahey at 641-753-6611 or mdonahey@timesrepublican.com

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