As the filing period for county races came and passed at 5 p.m. on Friday, a third Republican candidate, cattle feeder Kevin Goodman of Haverhill, has entered his name in the race to become the next Marshall County supervisor.

Incumbent County Auditor/Recorder Nan Benson also submitted her paperwork on Friday, and as it currently stands, both she and Sheriff Joel Phillips, who are Republicans, will run unopposed for their seats.

“I am running for reelection for Auditor/Recorder to have an opportunity for process improvements and collaborate with other Department Heads and Elected Officials within the County, City, and State to increase efficiencies where possible. I also want to expand on communications to the public for greater understanding of local government processes and services,” Benson said.

Benson is seeking her second full term in office, while Phillips was appointed in 2021 to replace Steve Hoffman after his resignation and subsequently won an unopposed election to serve the remainder of his term in 2022. Thus, if elected in November, he will serve his first full term.

“Being born and raised in Marshall County, there is no other place I would rather serve others and make a positive difference in our community. My reason for seeking reelection to the Office of Sheriff is to continue making Marshall County a better, safer, place for all of us to live, work and raise families. I believe that with my leadership, along with the men and women of the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office, we will focus on accomplishing these goals,” Phillips said. “I believe that the Sheriff’s Star (badge) is a symbol of public trust. To serve is an honor and a privilege. Effective law enforcement leaders must possess the desire and ability to recognize areas that need improvement, build a reputation of enforcing laws impartially, maintain a proactive not reactive agency, and make difficult and sometimes unpopular decisions to effect positive change. This thoughtful type of leadership will consistently enhance professionalism and service to the public.”

Phillips, a West Marshall alum and United States Marine Corps (USMC) veteran, noted a few major projects currently in motion, including replacing body cameras and in-car video systems and renovating the jail and sheriff’s office facility on Highway 30 between Marshalltown and State Center.

“While there are challenges and complexities facing law enforcement in and around our community, I believe the moment you stop accepting challenges is the moment you stop moving forward. I ask citizens of Marshall County to continue to have the privilege to serve as your sheriff,” he said.

Goodman is entering a race that already includes former GMG school board member Ruth Lycke of Green Mountain and businessman and Timber Creek Township Clerk Bill Schendel of rural Marshalltown.

A 1980 MHS graduate who played baseball at Iowa State, Goodman described himself as a “Jeffersonian Democrat” with an analytical mind, and the physical toll of his career has convinced him to transition to a new phase in life and give local politics a go.

“I’ve decided I’m gonna take that mind and run for county supervisor and take those analytical skills to the county level,” he said. “The closer we can get the power to the people, the better off the people will be. And so I see in that philosophy of Thomas Jefferson, being a county supervisor, I would get a feel for that to see how local governments work, and of course it’s my first time at it so it’s gonna be a learning curve, and I’m OK with that. I love a challenge.”

The primary will be held on June 4.

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Contact Robert Maharry at (641) 753-6611 ext. 255 or rmaharry@timesrepublican.com