Jerry Kloberdanz

Editor’s note: In the next two weeks, readers will see increased focus on the November election.

Today, we feature the candidates seeking the District 1 Hamilton County Supervisor seat:

Jerry Kloberdanz, the incumbent, and Mary Clausen. They were asked identical questions.

MARY CLAUSEN

What would you like the voters to know about you personally, your professional history, and your history in public service positions?

I graduated from Northeast Hamilton in 1970 and went on to graduate cosmetology school in 1971. I then began working at Osweiler’s in Webster City and managed the store salon from 1973-1989. In 1989, I became a small business owner within Hamilton County when I opened Mary & Co., which was a staple of Webster City until 2018. I decided to pass the torch to another small business owner. I worked for that owner until 2019 when I decided I needed a fresh atmosphere, which is why I currently work at Salon 707 in Webster City.

During my career I have been on many cosmetology boards and helped and eventually was hired to teach the inspectors for licensing by the Iowa Cosmetology Board. I was appointed by Governor (Terry) Branstad and confirmed by the Iowa Senate to the state cosmetology board. I served my full nine-year term. I worked to bring the barbers and cosmetologists together in one state board, thereby saving the state money.

I am an owner and operator of a family farm. I am a life-long member of the First Presbyterian Church of Kamrar. My children are graduates from the Webster City Community (School) District. Tying me further to Hamilton County, my family’s nieces and nephews graduated from the county’s schools as well. I am a longtime from childhood member of the Pine Lakes Wildlife Board.

I am deeply invested in the Hamilton County community and have been for my entire life. I have never turned down an opportunity to help someone, when I was able. My goal is to make life more prosperous and better for all. I have always viewed the children coming up as our future.

At the age of 17 my father took me to a political meeting in Kamrar. At that time, I knew that it was important for me to contribute to my community. As a child, I dedicated my life to God, family and country.

What, in your opinion, is something that you can bring to the Hamilton County Supervisor position that you believe is crucially needed?

All my life, I have strived to be honest, hard working and caring. I also bring my lifelong struggles in raising a family and losing a husband and running a small business and farm. I have also served a full nine-year term on Iowa’s governing board for cosmetology. During that time, I dealt with the Iowa Legislature’s laws and administrative rule making. I helped bring two contentious factions together to form the new cosmetology and barbers’ board saving the state of Iowa money. I do my homework. I study what is on the agenda ahead of time. I familiarize myself with the issues. I ask people who are affected by the issue their opinion. I gather as much information as I can to represent the people. That was my constant refrain on the state Cosmetology Board. We represent the people.

I will represent the people of my district and the county. I have been on many boards and committees. I have been on the rules committee of my industry. I have been well-prepared for the many committees that county supervisors serve on. I understand property taxes’ effect on homeowners, small businesses and farms.

3. How do you see yourself fulfilling the role of Hamilton County Supervisor?

I will be open and honest about what the county is facing and what we are trying to do to make the people’s lives better. I will hold open forums. I will do my homework and study the issues before I vote. I will seek input on the issues before the Board of Supervisors. I will try to make the Board of Supervisors more open to the public. Night meetings so the public can attend, could be helpful. If elected, I will serve the people. I am a phone call away: 515-835-1152.

4. What should be the priorities of the county government?

Protect county residents from crime and disasters; cut property taxes; support small businesses and business climate; perform our duty to serve and protect veterans; and provide the safety net for those in need are my first priorities as a supervisor.

There are many more duties mandated by the state andf ederal government that also must be considered in the duties of a county supervisor.

5. One issue: Tell the voters something about the effect(s) of House File 718 as it can be viewed from the position of Hamilton County Supervisor.

HF 718 is complicated; it contains more than 65 pages, many of which do not directly affect the county level of government and so it’s hard to make a concise statement on the entirety of the bill. However, reducing the burden of taxes on my constituents is a top priority. I hope that we will be able to balance our county budget and include the necessities such as public safety, quality of life, and quality infrastructure while we do it.

We have a lot of priorities and important projects here in Hamilton County. We want to guarantee our sheriff’s deputies get home safe at night, make sure our crops and commodities can get to market, and make sure our kids get to school everyday on our county and gravel roads. HF 718 certainly makes our decisions a little tougher at the county level by limiting the growth of property taxes but public service is about tough decisions. We need to balance the needs and responsibilities that local governments shoulder while also considering the burden that taxes have on our neighbors and constituents. HF 718 just made those decisions a little tougher but I welcome that challenge.

6. What paramount issue do you see that needs the supervisors’/county attention? Please elaborate.

The paramount issue before the Board of Supervisors is reducing property taxes. We must make it affordable for people to be able to stay in their homes, especially those of fixed and limited incomes. We also need to make our county and communities tax friendly. It is easy for some people to spend other people’s money. There are always a lot of wants, but we must keep to what we need. After, or sometimes before keep the public safe.

7. Add any comments that you wish to convey to Hamilton County voters.

I am in this campaign for supervisor because I have been asked to run for supervisor several times before. I am confident from others and myself that I can do a good job. I believe my opponent is a good person. I do believe that property taxes have increased to(o) much. Someone asked me if I would be disappointed if I lost. I said no. I am running for the county. I am running for the people. Thank you for voting in this election.

JERRY KLOBERDANZ

I have lived in Webster City most of my life. I graduated from Webster City High School. I went to work at Electrolux in April 1979 and worked there until the plant closed on March 31, 2011. I was a union leader with United Auto Workers Local 442 for 32 years.

After the plant closed, I went to college and received an AA (Associate of Arts) degree in Geographical Information Systems. I went to work being a precision ag technician at Brokaw Supply in Fort Dodge.

I have been involved in the community since the 1990s. I was on the People’s Credit Union Board for 15 years. I have been on the Webster City Recycling Committee, Airport Committee, Traffic Committee, and eight years on the City Council (of Webster City). I am now in my fourth year as a Hamilton County Supervisor.

What, in your opinion, is something that you can bring to the Hamilton County Supervisor position that you believe is crucially needed?

The ability to listen and not jump to conclusions. One of the things with the supervisor’s position is, nothing is ever cut and dry; there are always different views on every situation and you have to gather that information and make a decision based on the facts and not your own bias or your own opinion. A supervisor is there to listen to their constituents and do what is best for them.

How do you see yourself fulfilling the role of Hamilton County Supervisor?

Over the last, close to four years as a Hamilton County Supervisor, I believe that I have always listened to the people of Hamilton County and tried to make the best decisions that I can. The thing that voters need to understand, as a supervisor you do not make decisions on your own. You have to work with the other supervisors and work together to do your best for the county residents.

What should be the priorities of the county government?

Public safety must be the top priority for Hamilton County. Making sure there is law enforcement available to protect, and to make sure the county provides the services the residents expect and desire. The county has many departments that can be very hazardous, sheriff deputies that are on the front line, secondary roads employees, conservation department employees, public health employees, and all the other departments that serve the public of Hamilton County. We need to make sure that the employees that work for the county are safe on the job, and go home the same as they showed up for work. We have many services that we supply the public.

Our Veterans Affairs Office assists any and all veterans, which I believe should be a priority, general assistance for those in need, conference center for meeting space and celebrations. What may be a priority for one person may not be the same priority for someone else. So as a supervisor you have to determine what should be the priorities for the county and be able to justify those decisions to the public.

One issue: Tell the voters something about the effect(s) of House File 718 as it can be viewed from the position of Hamilton County Supervisor.

House File 718 is a very complicated bill passed by the Iowa Legislature. The idea behind the law was to reduce taxes raised by the counties. The legislation was designed to reduce property taxes in counties throughout the state. There was approximately one-third of the counties in the state over the $3.50 General Basic fund max and the Legislature wanted to put a stop to this action.

Hamilton County’s General Basic fund was at $3.70 in fiscal year 23/24. The board of supervisors wanted to lower General Basic to $3.50, but because of HF718 that mandated that we would have the General Basic at $3.62 because of the valuation increases in the county. If the county went below the $3.62 General Basic, we would not be able to levy any funds for the General Supplemental, which is approximately $3.5 million, which pays for health insurance and other employee benefits. The county cannot pay for these benefits with the funds from the General Basic because we cannot levy any higher than what the state allows us to and there is not enough money in the General Fund to pay for everything that the county has to pay for.

I wish the Legislature would have talked with the county supervisors to find out what the reasons (were) for the levies going above $3.50. Most of the increases in the levy above $3.50 was due to Covid 19 and the increased costs that all counties were dealing with for the last three to four years. Hamilton County knew that we could lower our taxes to $3.50 in FY24/25 but the Legislature made that impossible.

What paramount issue do you see that needs the supervisors’/county attention? Please elaborate.

The concern that I have is the effects of HF718. I’m not concerned today about the effects of HF718, but I’m very concerned about FY25/26 and the following years. I do not have any idea at this time what our General Basic levy will be, because as an elected supervisor I do not have control over what that levy should be; the state Legislature took that away from all county supervisors to decide as local elected officials. This could cause the county to cut services and lay off employees.

I know that the residents of Hamilton County want and need the same services that Polk, Story, Webster and other counties have. We have 15,000 people living in Hamilton County and I would like to make sure that we have the services that the residents want and need.

Add any comments that you wish to convey to Hamilton County voters.

I would like to thank the voters for allowing me to represent them for the last four years. The next couple of years will be very interesting with the Iowa Legislature talking about making more restrictive legislation on property taxes. Now I know nobody likes property taxes but they do like to have services that they need to make their life a little easier. The most important thing I would like to impress on voters is to make sure you take the time and vote on November 5th regardless of who you vote for. With that ,I am asking for your vote on November 5th. I will do my best to serve you.