Rielly Talks About His Run For Supervisor

Iowa Senator Tom Rielly (D)

Oskaloosa, Iowa – His political career has had many twists and turns, but the most recent takes him back to where home is.

It wasn’t so long ago that the announcement of Tom Rielly’s (D) retirement from the Iowa Senate came out. Most times announcements like that signal an end to one’s political career, at least in the short term. But the rumor mill took hold and, with the help of supporters, Rielly tossed his hat into the ring for Mahaska County Supervisor.

I asked Rielly about the move. “I can assure you, I had not really considered that,” Rielly said on his move towards county government. “After I had made my announcement I had been approached by a few individuals; I was encouraged, rather enthusiastically, by a few other individuals; I gave it a few weeks.”

Rielly says his commitment to public service was a factor, but he took his time and discussed it with his wife Mary. “Frankly, as long as I’m not up in Des Moines, January through April, Monday through Thursday, I think she’s OK with that.”

The Highway 63 project has been a part of Rielly’s work in the past few years, and the opportunity to help see it through as a county supervisor is also a big reason for wanting to help. Rielly brings his experience as the chair of the Transportation Committee in the Senate, and believes he will be of assistance with his knowledge of the project. “We need to start thinking not in terms of individual projects, but intermodally. We need to create an area that suits peoples rail, road and air needs. I’m committed to improve the roads and bridges.” Rielly says he believes that roads and bridges is still a major concern of Mahaska County residents, and said he will continue to advocate for increased funding for roads and bridges.

Continued discussions with residents about what they feel is important is something Rielly would like to continue. Rielly recently completed a listening post tour of sorts in his senate district. “Going out, sitting down, and just shutting up. Asking the question, ‘how do you view things are going right now?’, and build off of that.”

Rielly thinks that cooperation between the county and city is possible, and uses the example of when he was Mayor of Oskaloosa and working out an agreement over paramedic service.

“When I was the Mayor of Oskaloosa, we worked in cooperation with the entire county. The county didn’t have a paramedic level service. We worked as a county.” Rielly says that cities like Oskaloosa, New Sharon, “I think we worked well together. It was a little rough at first, but in the end, we had a full time paramedic level service that got shifted over to the hospital. We gave up some stuff as a city, and I think some other cities gave some stuff up; in the end, I think we all won. I’d like to get back into that work.”

The new airport project has been an area of discussion and debate around Mahaska County for some time. “I’ve been in favor of the airport project. I think it’s good government myself. As Chair of the Transportation Committee, do we need 111 airports?”

Rielly says he believes that he has used the Oskaloosa Airport once, “maybe twice in my life.” The one time he remembers for sure is when his brother gave him a ride in a plane.

“I take it for their word, and I take it serious that companies which is Pella Corp, Vermeer, Clow, Musco, Pepsi, I think they use their jets, and I think there’s a bona fide reason for using them. I’ll never fly in a corporate jet, Rielly Insurance will never own a corporate jet. But that’s not necessarily what these airports are for. Does it make sense that every little town in Iowa has it’s own little individual airport or shouldn’t we start sharing services?”

Rielly said that initially his reasons for leaving the Senate and not running again were both personal and business. He recently announced an expansion of services at his business, but believes that with working in town, he will be able to do both. “It’s one thing to be in Des Moines, it’s another to be a block from the courthouse.”

The primary is set for June 5th in Mahaska County, with 2 Democrats and 3 Republicans seeking the office of County Supervisor.