After the sudden passing of Supervisor Kevin Goodman on Jan. 7, the three-member Marshall County Appointment Committee comprised of County Attorney Jordan Gaffney, Auditor/Recorder Nan Benson and Treasurer Deann Tomlinson is accepting applications to fill the vacancy, which must be completed within a 40-day window by Feb. 16 in keeping with Iowa Code.

According to Benson, the tentative plan is to conduct interviews with those who submit an application on Wednesday, Feb. 4, and swear in a new supervisor at the regular meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 11. All interviews will be open to the public unless the applicant specifically requests a closed session. Applicants are asked to submit a cover letter, resume and letter of reference and complete a Marshall County job application, which is available at https://www.marshallcountyia.gov/DocumentCenter/View/1539/Application-for-Employment.

Candidates are also asked to visit https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=G9CJHFZGykCu0FRDha5Wh2o9NXIbqIZPtoDNrLGL_8ZUQ1Q0SjZRN05SWkEyMVZZSFQ2TVdaVENCNS4u&route=shorturl and answer the following questions after filling out basic personal information.

1. Why are you interested in becoming a member of the Marshall County Board of Supervisors?

2. What is your understanding of the primary responsibilities of the board? What skills do you bring to the table to compliment those responsibilities?

3. Service on the board requires a significant amount of time for meetings, studying issues, and other activities. How much time per week do you anticipate you will have to devote to the board and what other commitments do you have?

4. How familiar are you with issues faced by rural Marshall County residents and residents of the other small communities within Marshall County?

5. What are the greatest challenges or major issues facing Marshall County? What goals would you like to accomplish and/or changes you would like to implement if appointed?

6. Describe your approach to balancing economic and business interests with the interests of private citizens.

7. Supervisors are often approached by concerned citizens regarding county issues. Give an example of how you’ve handled a situation where a group with diverse opinions arrived at a consensus or resolution.

8. Identify your past and current participation in business/community organizations, government-related positions, and political party affiliation.

9. Describe your experience in putting together and managing budgets. How would you prioritize which programs or services to retain If major reductions in funding were to occur?

10. Whether or not you are appointed, if a special election is petitioned, would you seek nomination to run? (Feel free to provide further explanation if you would like.)

11. If we were to narrow the choices between you and one other person, why should we choose you?

The deadline to apply is Jan. 29 at 4:30 p.m. Applications can be emailed to Benson at nbenson@marshallcountyia.gov, hand delivered to the Auditor/Recorder’s office on the third floor of the Marshall County Courthouse or mailed to Marshall County Auditor/Recorder — Attn: Nan Benson, 1 E. Main St, Marshalltown, IA 50158.

A supervisor is expected to attend biweekly regular meetings, special meetings and budget meetings with a “non-standard” work week of approximately 30 hours per week Monday through Friday — though additional hours outside of this may be required. Supervisors also serve on a variety of local and statewide boards and committees.

The candidate must be a registered voter who has resided within Marshall County for at least 60 days. The current salary is $47,302.80 with a full Marshall County benefit package that includes health, dental and vision Coverage, long-term and short-term disability, life insurance and IPERS.

Voters can still force a special election if just over 1,700 petition signatures are collected. A candidate who wins a special election would serve out Goodman’s term until the end of 2028, and Benson added that an appointed candidate, if they choose to run as a member of a political party, would still fill out paperwork in March, run in the June 2026 primary and then again in the November 2026 general election to serve out the remainder of Goodman’s term.

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Contact Robert Maharry at 641-753-6611 ext. 255 or

rmaharry@timesrepublican.com.