Johnson County Supervisor Janelle Rettig and Robin Butler Announce Their Endorsement of Kamala Harris for President.
"Kamala Harris is a compassionate leader that calls upon our better instincts to improve our world. She is wicked smart, tough, and adaptive. She cares about people. She is an active listener who never stops trying to solve problems. It will be an honor to stand with Kamala Harris on caucus night."
Janelle Rettig and Robin Bulter
December 1, 2019
We have met all the main candidates, studied their positions, read their books, watched every debate and watched or read hundreds of interviews. We feel very privileged to live in Iowa where we have opportunities to see these candidates in small groups and large rallies. We don't take our access lightly. We believe in studying the candidates while they submit their resumes for President of the United States. We have high expectations of candidates and their positions.
This Presidential cycle the Democrats have an amazing group of candidates and it would be an honor to stand up on Caucus night with several of them. We have been activists for our entire adult lives and not endorsing in this very important election is against our roots. We have spent our lives as activists on many issues such as LGBTQ civil rights and marriage equality, environmental issues and conservation, women's equality and reproductive rights and poverty and affordable housing. We believe in the power of a small group of individuals to change the world for the better.
After many hours of discussion, we have decided to endorse Kamala Harris. We do so with great admiration of several other candidates.
Kamala Harris is a combination of intelligence, toughness, caring, listening, adapting and leadership we find impossible to ignore. We have watched her listen, learn and adapt as she met more and more people with stories to tell. She is smart and thoughtful, but also as strong, determined and tough as they come. Harris knows how to get things done by being flexible and finding common ground, but also knows when to stay strong and true.
Harris shines when she talks about bringing women up in access, pay, opportunities and education. She knows economic disparity is a crisis in our Country. Harris listened to many people and labor unions about forcing people to give up private insurance and has been flexible enough to adapt and allow her plan to change for the better. Her knowledge of International Affairs is rarely on display in this cycle, but when glimpses of issues surface, it is clear her Intelligence Committee credentials put her above many other candidates.
We have given much of our life to LGBTQ civil rights and marriage equality. When many people rejected our civil rights and were pushing civil unions, Kamala Harris was standing up for same-sex couples and performing their wedding ceremonies. Her upbringing of activism and having protester parents gives her the deep-rooted courage to be ahead of popular opinion and do what is right.
It does matter to us that Kamala Harris is a woman of color who was an activist on marriage equality long before it was cool. Her history, her upbringing, her instincts are to fight for those in need.
Kamala Harris is a compassionate leader that calls upon our better instincts to improve our world. She is wicked smart, tough, and adaptive. She cares about people. She is an active listener who never stops trying to solve problems. It will be an honor to stand with Kamala Harris on caucus night.
Please consider joining us in supporting Kamala Harris.
Sunday, December 1, 2019
Thursday, March 21, 2019
Voting my conscience
It seems the Johnson County budget for FY 20 has become a topic of a blog that judges me in my wife's words as "blasting" and "inaccurate." I haven't read that blog in years, so I couldn't tell you personally. In developing the budget, the Board of Supervisors received very little input from the public and even less media. After we voted, a member of the media contacted me wanting to question me about my no vote, but I didn't want controversy so I didn't return the call. But now since a Sup with a blog wants to tell people what I did or didn't do, I guess I should say it in my own words.
Building a County budget takes dozens of meetings, thousands of lines of data and many points of decision. Because of the timing of becoming a Supervisor, I now have had a hand in eleven budgets. All of these meetings and everything I have said or voted on is recorded. I have been consistent in advocating for funding for roads and bridges; social services and poverty programs; mental health and disability services; jail alternatives; sustainability and trails; emergency medical services; infrastructure and maintenance; quality customer service. I support government services, a good infrastructure and good government. But I also am consistently the lowest spender on the Board.
I believe I have always underspent my colleagues in each and every budget.
The FY 20 budget was no exception. In developing the budget on our first round, I was the lowest spender: Porter was $1,838,828 more; Sullivan $1,897,827 more; Green-Douglass $2,223,164 more; Heiden $2,259,209 more.
The final budget had a number of things I didn't support, like a CIT building in the floodplain that is significantly higher than originally considered and two years later than it should have been opened. The budget also has the Board increasing their own personal staff from 3 to 7 FTE in three years. The budget has significant pay raises for elected officials and a special bonus and an unplanned raise for the Sheriff. You will hear this budget lowers the levy, which is absolutely true. But for a number of years homeowners have been getting an increasingly larger share of tax askings because Iowa code favors commercial and agricultural lands. So a steady or even lowered levy can still raise taxes and this one does just that. I believe it is best to tell that and not spin it. Johnson County could have easily created a budget that did significant good and not raise homeowners taxes, but I was outvoted in developing the final budget.
Things like this happen every year and for nine years I argued my point of view, I negotiated and I lost a lot of small votes, but I voted for the budget. I believe compromise is something local government does that is superior to state and national government. I would have done that last and this year, but for one thing that my conscience wouldn't let me do. My personal ethics would not let me vote for a budget that used Conservation Bond money on what is called the Schwab property, that has some woodlands that I support, but also an event center, barns, collections, which I could not support.
In 2008, I, along with dozens of people, Dick Schwab, and my spouse campaigned on the conservation bond initiative -- Our Land Water and Future. We convinced just over 60% of voters in a recession to raise their taxes and vote for conservation and sustainability. I co-chaired that campaign with Schwab. We promised the voters the money would only be spent for conservation in woodlands, wetlands, prairies and trails. We said it couldn't be spent in any other way. We told you there would be complete transparency. As it turns out, you were misled and I am ashamed and embarrassed that your money is being spent this way. It is wrong that the County took money that is much needed for climate change conservation and flood protection in wetlands and diverted it to fancy barns, collections and an event center. It is wrong that a campaign co-chair cashed out for millions on conservation money. This project is already costing more and more money for staffing, equipment, trucks, utilities and more. There is no doubt the barns are beautiful. But more woodlands, wetlands and prairies is what you were promised. Diverting much needed conservation money to a money pit event center is wrong, it is also on a rock road, off overused chip seal roads in a residential area. This is the absolute worst place in the County for an event center.
I wasn't going to do media interviews or write my thoughts, but the blog by a Supervisor personally and misleadingly attacking me needed answered.
I believe government should be completely transparent. I believe government should tell the truth about how we spend your money. I believe government should be financially responsible. My ethics, my conscience wouldn't let me vote for budgets with conservation bond money diverted to an event center. If people don't like my two votes against this unethical wasteful spending, that's fine. In the end I have to be able to live with my decisions and values and that's why I voted no.
Building a County budget takes dozens of meetings, thousands of lines of data and many points of decision. Because of the timing of becoming a Supervisor, I now have had a hand in eleven budgets. All of these meetings and everything I have said or voted on is recorded. I have been consistent in advocating for funding for roads and bridges; social services and poverty programs; mental health and disability services; jail alternatives; sustainability and trails; emergency medical services; infrastructure and maintenance; quality customer service. I support government services, a good infrastructure and good government. But I also am consistently the lowest spender on the Board.
I believe I have always underspent my colleagues in each and every budget.
The FY 20 budget was no exception. In developing the budget on our first round, I was the lowest spender: Porter was $1,838,828 more; Sullivan $1,897,827 more; Green-Douglass $2,223,164 more; Heiden $2,259,209 more.
The final budget had a number of things I didn't support, like a CIT building in the floodplain that is significantly higher than originally considered and two years later than it should have been opened. The budget also has the Board increasing their own personal staff from 3 to 7 FTE in three years. The budget has significant pay raises for elected officials and a special bonus and an unplanned raise for the Sheriff. You will hear this budget lowers the levy, which is absolutely true. But for a number of years homeowners have been getting an increasingly larger share of tax askings because Iowa code favors commercial and agricultural lands. So a steady or even lowered levy can still raise taxes and this one does just that. I believe it is best to tell that and not spin it. Johnson County could have easily created a budget that did significant good and not raise homeowners taxes, but I was outvoted in developing the final budget.
Things like this happen every year and for nine years I argued my point of view, I negotiated and I lost a lot of small votes, but I voted for the budget. I believe compromise is something local government does that is superior to state and national government. I would have done that last and this year, but for one thing that my conscience wouldn't let me do. My personal ethics would not let me vote for a budget that used Conservation Bond money on what is called the Schwab property, that has some woodlands that I support, but also an event center, barns, collections, which I could not support.
In 2008, I, along with dozens of people, Dick Schwab, and my spouse campaigned on the conservation bond initiative -- Our Land Water and Future. We convinced just over 60% of voters in a recession to raise their taxes and vote for conservation and sustainability. I co-chaired that campaign with Schwab. We promised the voters the money would only be spent for conservation in woodlands, wetlands, prairies and trails. We said it couldn't be spent in any other way. We told you there would be complete transparency. As it turns out, you were misled and I am ashamed and embarrassed that your money is being spent this way. It is wrong that the County took money that is much needed for climate change conservation and flood protection in wetlands and diverted it to fancy barns, collections and an event center. It is wrong that a campaign co-chair cashed out for millions on conservation money. This project is already costing more and more money for staffing, equipment, trucks, utilities and more. There is no doubt the barns are beautiful. But more woodlands, wetlands and prairies is what you were promised. Diverting much needed conservation money to a money pit event center is wrong, it is also on a rock road, off overused chip seal roads in a residential area. This is the absolute worst place in the County for an event center.
I wasn't going to do media interviews or write my thoughts, but the blog by a Supervisor personally and misleadingly attacking me needed answered.
I believe government should be completely transparent. I believe government should tell the truth about how we spend your money. I believe government should be financially responsible. My ethics, my conscience wouldn't let me vote for budgets with conservation bond money diverted to an event center. If people don't like my two votes against this unethical wasteful spending, that's fine. In the end I have to be able to live with my decisions and values and that's why I voted no.
The Census is Coming
The United States Census is coming early next year. It isn't too early to start talking why it is important that everyone participate in the location they live regardless of where they came from.
It is important that everyone including students and immigrants living in Johnson County participate and claim Johnson County, because the Census determines where $900 billion of funding goes each year. It also determines Congressional representation by each state. So I hope anyone living in Johnson County next spring participates and claims our area.
This time much of the Census will be conducted on-line. Across the Country, local governments and organizations are organizing to make computers available in public areas that people that may have difficulty participating in the Census can access. I hope we start seeing similar organizational efforts here in Johnson County.
I recently read an article on the Census in one of my work related magazines. It included this quiz. The quiz brings out some important facts about the Census.
Sheriff Deputies in Schools
For the upcoming Johnson County budget for FY20, the Johnson County Sheriff proposed raising taxes to put a Deputy in the Clear Creek Amana high school. I opposed this move to put police in schools, because statistically it escalates juvenile engagement with the criminal justice system and furthermore disproportionately impacts children of color. Fortunately, the other Supervisors opposed it also. When the Sheriff cornered me to challenge my opinion, he said that may be true nationally but where is the Iowa data? The Clear Creek Amana Principal and Sheriff still want armed police in the school on a daily basis. Not a single person spoke out about this proposal. The Sheriff has asked for time to discuss this initiative of his further.
Thanks to ACLU and the Des Moines Register for providing this important data in the editorial. I believe having police in school often escalates juvenile involvement with the criminal justice system. This is the wrong direction to go in addressing children's mental health and behavioral issues. Let's put social workers, councillors and doctors in schools and resist putting people there with the power to arrest.
I hope people will engage and weigh in on this issue in this year's school board races and next year's campaign for Sheriff.
Des Moines Register: Iowa schools have more cops than social workers
Friday, December 28, 2018
Welcoming Immigrants
Welcome to Johnson County Jackie and Isaac!
We are an open and caring County. You join an area with rich history of welcoming immigrants and celebrating diversity.
Thursday, December 13, 2018
Volunteers needed and you get paid!
Compensation Commission Vacancies
Johnson County, Iowa — The Johnson County Board of Supervisors announces 12 vacancies on the Johnson County Compensation Commission for one-year terms beginning immediately appointment and expiring Dec. 31, 2019.
Members of the Compensation Commission are selected by the chief judge of the judicial district to serve during condemnation proceedings in Johnson County. Commissioners are compensated $200 per hearing for which they are chosen and serve. Duties include assessment of damage to all property taken by an acquiring agency and located in the county. No member of the Compensation Commission selected shall possess any interest in the proceeding which would cause such person to render a biased decision.
For more information and to apply, please visit our county website at:
https://www.johnson-county.com/dept_jobs.aspx?id=79480
Johnson County, Iowa — The Johnson County Board of Supervisors announces 12 vacancies on the Johnson County Compensation Commission for one-year terms beginning immediately appointment and expiring Dec. 31, 2019.
Members of the Compensation Commission are selected by the chief judge of the judicial district to serve during condemnation proceedings in Johnson County. Commissioners are compensated $200 per hearing for which they are chosen and serve. Duties include assessment of damage to all property taken by an acquiring agency and located in the county. No member of the Compensation Commission selected shall possess any interest in the proceeding which would cause such person to render a biased decision.
For more information and to apply, please visit our county website at:
https://www.johnson-county.com/dept_jobs.aspx?id=79480
Adopt-A-Road Program
Johnson County has an adopt a road program. This program currently has eight groups participating. We are very grateful to those eight groups. With over 500 miles of road, there is plenty of room for more volunteers to help keep the roadways free of litter.
Here is some additional information from the County website:
>>The Adopt-A-Roadway Program allows groups or individuals to adopt a specific section of a County road. Through this adoption they may assume responsibility for any or all of the eligible items listed below. The available activities have the potential to:
Reduce litter along Johnson County's roadways
Enhance the environmental quality and beauty of our roadsides
Build broad-based community support for anti-litter and Iowa beautification programs>>
You can learn more here:
https://www.johnson-county.com/dept_sec_roads.aspx?id=8555
Here is some additional information from the County website:
>>The Adopt-A-Roadway Program allows groups or individuals to adopt a specific section of a County road. Through this adoption they may assume responsibility for any or all of the eligible items listed below. The available activities have the potential to:
Reduce litter along Johnson County's roadways
Enhance the environmental quality and beauty of our roadsides
Build broad-based community support for anti-litter and Iowa beautification programs>>
You can learn more here:
https://www.johnson-county.com/dept_sec_roads.aspx?id=8555
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