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Meet the candidates

Marshall County Auditor/Recorder

Nan Benson, a Republican, was named Marshall County Auditor/Recorder on Oct. 31, 2017, having been appointed to the position by the Marshall County Board of Supervisors to serve the remainder of Deanne Raymond’s four-year term, which began in 2016. Benson is running unopposed after State Center Mayor and former two-term state Sen. Steve Sodders, a Democrat, dropped out of the race, although his name will still be on the ballot. Benson is a CPA (Certified Public Accountant) with over 32 years of accounting, financial and budget experience. She has helped to oversee the Marshall County Courthouse renovation efforts following the July 19 tornado.

Marshall County Treasurer

Jarret Heil of Haverhill, a Republican, is running unopposed as Marshall County Treasurer, a position in which he has served since being elected to the seat in 2010. Heil is a former staff member of both Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, and Rep. Tom Latham, R-Iowa. He said he is committed to increasing efficiency in the treasurer’s office, including using employee turnover in the past few years to consolidate a position, and using technology to help with tax sale work.

Marshall County Attorney

Jennifer Miller, a Republican, runs unopposed for her fourth term as Marshall County Attorney. In addition to wanting to continue a county debt collection program, she would like to expand the county’s victim-witness program. Her department handles all juvenile court delinquencies and assists with Child in Need of Assistance cases, being responsible for around 85 enumerated duties in the Iowa Code.

Marshall County Board of Supervisors

Two incumbents and two challengers vie for two Marshall County Board of Supervisors seats. Bill Patten and Dave Thompson, both Republicans, are seeking re-election to the Marshall County Board of Supervisors, a three-person panel that oversees the operation of county government. They are being challenged by Sue Blaisdell and Thomas Thurston, both Democrats, for a four-year term on the board. Supervisor Steve Salasek, a Republican, is not up for re-election this year. Patten and Thompson were unopposed in the Republican primary.

Incumbent Bill Patten has spent over four decades in farming and lives on a Century Farm. He said his experience as president of the Marshall County Farm Bureau and Marshall County Soybean Producers, as well as being a member of the board of trustees for William Penn University, all equipped him with the qualities of being a good public servant. He said if re-elected he would continue to work on the restoration efforts of the Marshall County Courthouse.

Incumbent Dave Thompson, a Republican, wants the voters of Marshall County to re-elect him for a third term. Thompson and his family own the local Thompson True Value. He said keeping the county’s budget balanced and not having to raise taxes are his proudest achievements. He too would like to have the opportunity to continue the work of the courthouse restorations.

Sue Blaisdell of Marshalltown, a Democrat, said if elected she would focus on these key elements: improving mental health services, encouraging people to better his or her personal nutrition and eventually paving all the roads in Marshall County.

Thomas Thurston, whose family goes back several generations in Marshalltown (his great, great-grandfather was David Lennox), said if elected, he would work to bring a positive, youthful perspective to the job. He said connecting the parks in the county through a trail system is one of his key causes. He also wants to work to find ways of improving Iowa’s water and soil quality and expand mental health resources.

District House 71

Mark Smith of Marshalltown, a Democrat, seeks his 10th term as Iowa House District 71 representative. First elected in 2001, Smith said if re-elected, he would continue to work on health care and mental health reform, job training and creation, the public school system and equal pay for women and keeping abortion legal. A licensed independent social worker, he holds a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Iowa. He has resided in Iowa all of his life.

James Perez of Marshalltown, a Republican, is running to unseat Smith. Describing himself as blue collar and not a fan of politicians, Perez, if elected, said he will work to further conservative policies in the Iowa legislature. Integrity, honor, courage and commitment are the traits he says make him qualified to serve as a state representative. The son of a Cuban refugee, Perez grew up in west Texas and has lived in Marshalltown the last eight years. He spent six years in the U.S. Marines followed by eight years working in anti-terrorism crime tracking in Guam, Hawaii, Japan and Iraq. He is pro-life and Pro-Second Amendment rights.

District House 72

Dean Fisher of Montour, a Republican, seeks his fourth term as Iowa House District 72 representative. The candidate is a fifth-generation Iowa farmer who owns and operates a Heritage Farm. Fisher said if elected for a fourth term, he will continue his commitment to repealing the Affordable Care Act and giving schools more flexibility in decision making. He is also committed to Second Amendment rights and the pro-life movement. He said he is keenly interested in balancing the state’s budget and reducing taxes. He believes more work needs to be done in providing people with mid-range job skills.

Mindy Benson of Tama, a Democrat, is running to unseat Fisher. She serves as the Tama County Emergency Manager and 911 director. Benson said collective bargaining and raising the minimum wage are important issues. Benson said if elected she would work to protect IPERS (Iowa Public Employees’ Retirement System). She is pro-choice. In contrast to her opponent, Benson said she is a supporter of legalizing the usage of cannabis oil in Iowa in the immediate future, particularly for the treatment of tremors and seizures. She also identifies as an ally of the LGBTQ community, where Fisher has proposed legislation that would ban same-sex marriage.

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