Final Eggs And Issues For 2018 Has Candidate Panel

Eggs and Issues for March 24, 2018 featured candidates running for public office.

Oskaloosa, Iowa – The Oskaloosa Area Chamber and Development Group host Eggs and Issues every year, and the final version of 2018 included six candidates seeking office either at the local or state level.

Those seeking local office include Steve Park and Willie Van Weelden for County Supervisor and Connie Van Polen for County Treasurer. All are Republicans.

Seeking office at the state level is Dustin Hite (R), who is running for District 79 in the Iowa House. Susan McDaniel (D) and Holly Brink (R) are seeking election to District 80 for the Iowa House.

McDaniel was the first to give her candidate profile. McDaniel is from Appanoose County where she lives on a farm. She was a high school government and history teacher for 38 years, retiring four years ago.

McDaniel said that she decided after spending some time volunteering in her community, she would run for political office in the Iowa Legislature.

McDaniel said the three main reasons she is running include the budget, public education funding, and the privatization of Medicaid.

Holly Brink was next to speak, saying she grew up on a family farm in Keokuk County. Brink is a graduate of Oskaloosa High School and attended William Penn University.

Brink and her husband and three children live on their family farm north of Oskaloosa and she works as a benefits consultant for Aflac. “I’m very excited about this opportunity.”

Brink says she’s running for the State Legislature because she truly loves Iowa, and raises her family here because of traditions, values, “and everything we hold dear.”

“I think we need to continue to work together,” said Brink. “I feel that if we do that, we can improve our education, which we all know is so important.”

Brink also believes that improving trade, ultimately improving the jobs available to Iowan’s and growing the economy and supporting local manufacturers, farmers, and entrepreneurs is important.

Dustin Hite is a Republican running for the Iowa House District 79, a seat being vacated by Guy Vander Linden.

Hite says he’s a lifelong resident of Mahaska County, growing up in rural New Sharon on his family’s century farm.

Hite lives in New Sharon with his family, where he is also the Mayor of New Sharon. He works in Oskaloosa as an attorney and also represents some smaller communities as their city attorney.

“As an attorney, my job is to help people,” explained Hite. “I deal with issues and problems that they have in their lives.”

Hite asked voters to speak to the residents of New Sharon about his job performance as mayor and pointed towards recognition the community received from Business Insider in 2015, when New Sharon was named one of the most affordable small towns in the whole country. “That’s due to our low tax rate and the low regulations that we have in the City of New Sharon.”

Connie Van Polen is running for Mahaska County Treasurer. Van Polen said this is her first time running for a public office.

Van Polen is the mother of two, and grandmother of four. She’s the owner of a century farm and born and raised in Mahaska County.

Van Polen has worked for the Mahaska County Treasurers Office since 1995 when she was hired as a clerk. In 1996, she was promoted to accounting deputy. In 2003, she was once again promoted to Mahaska County Deputy Treasurer.

Van Polen’s accomplishments include being a volunteer for the Iowa National Guard Child and Youth Program, where she was awarded a bronze medallion for her service. She was also awarded a Governor’s Volunteer Award in 2012.

Mahaska County Supervisor Willie Van Weelden is running for reelection this year.

Van Weelden said he grew up in Mahaska County and enlisted in the Air Force after high school.

Van Weelden and his wife live on their farm northeast of Oskaloosa that they have owned for the past 46 years.

Van Weelden has served on the county board of supervisors for 12 years.

Steve Parker is also running for Mahaska County Supervisor, and said he’s a lifelong resident of Mahaska County.

Parker says he’s the fifth generation to farm and is married with three children and four grandchildren.

Parker is a graduate of Twin Cedars in 1972 and a Farm Bureau board member for over 15 years, serving as president for three years.

Former Mahaska County Supervisor Joe Warrick asked what vision for the future they had for the county.

Van Weelden said his vision for Mahaska County is having a good road infrastructure, developing a workforce to help area business grow, and working with the cities to help the county be a place people want to move to.

Parker said his vision is to take care of the roads already in the county, “instead of building more.”

Parker said developing employees is something he’s aware of as a need, stating his wife has difficulty getting employees in her business.

Another point from Parker was “Watching where our tax dollars are being spent. There seems to be a lot of money spent on EMA right now, and there doesn’t seem to be any accountability.”

Andy McGuire asked how to resolve the rift between the county and city to create a more cohesive community for the entire county.

“The first thing you have to do is listen,” said Parker. “I think if we work together and communicate we’ll be alright.”

Van Weelden said, “I see it. I hear it. There is a difference between the city and the county on some issues.”

“I try to work with the city to do things. Sometimes we want things our way, sometimes the city wants things their way, and so there has to be some compromise on both sides to bring this together,” added Van Weelden. “I think it’s important for the county and the city to work together.”

Those seeking state representative jobs also faced questions about their vision for the future, state budget, and conservation.

The primary election for local, state and federal offices will be June 5th, 2018. The general election will take place on November 6, 2018.