Mahaska County Supervisor Candidate Joe Warrick

Mahaska County Supervisor Candidate Joe Warrick

Oskaloosa, Iowa – Joe Warrick is a candidate for Mahaska County Supervisor, a position he once held in the late 80’s.

Warrick, who was born in Mahaska County, can trace his roots in the county to 1860 when his great-great-grandfather moved in near Rose Hill. “We’ve been here ever since,” says Warrick.

Warrick and his family have been recognized nationally for their purebred Suffolk sheep. “I’ve been very fortunate. I’ve showed all over the United States and in Canada, with the family selling sheep all over the United States and 6 foreign countries.

Warrick attended and graduated from Oskaloosa Community School. He then attended William Penn College, where he attained his BA. He furthered his education by attaining his MA from, what is now known as, Truman State University.

“I do want to see that the airport gets its fair share. That it gets completed,” says Warrick. “That we move ahead in a positive towards getting that done.”

Also important for Warrick and his decision to run is to see that the Highway 63 bypass and the southeast connector get the attention they deserve, “and continues to be worked on.” Warrick also sees the importance of the Caldwell Park Learning Center for the community.

“The Supervisors hopefully take a positive role in all these activities,” says Warrick. “To Move us forward.”

Warrick says he is aware of the challenges of secondary roads, and maintaining that infrastructure. “We have a lot of good people working on different projects… trying to push the county forward into the future, to make this a very viable place to live, and I want to help and encourage those people.”

When it comes to the biggest challenge facing Mahaska County, Warrick sees transportation being on the top of that list. “If you are looking at aviation and if you’re looking at roads, that’s a major issue that will take a lot of time.

Finding funding to maintain secondary roads is “harder to come by,” says Warrick. “There seems to be less and less of it as costs go up. Money doesn’t go as far as it used to.”

Warrick hopes to see Mahaska County as “A nice safe place to live in that people have good access to services, particularly health services.”

Warrick believes that when we invest in the community and its infrastructure, businesses will look at Mahaska County as “an attractive place they would like to locate in.”

“I like to listen to people, even if we don’t agree,” says Warrick, in describing something that helps make him a good leader. “I like to hear what other people have to say, and is there something in what they say, can I use some of it and not have to reinvent the wheel some way.”

I asked Warrick what was most challenging for him during his first term as a Supervisor. Learning and using diplomacy to work out issues with others, who may not think the same as you, was something Warrick took away from his first term in office.

“I want to work for the betterment of Mahaska County, which I hope improves your [voter] future,” says Warrick.

Warrick wants to also look at ways to help retain young individuals in the community after investing in them and their future.