Last week the Mirror-Reporter featured the responses of Cerro Gordo County Supervisor District 3 candidates Lori Meacham Ginapp and Don O’Connor, as well as an open letter from District 2 Supervisor Casey Callanan, who is running unopposed in the Nov. 8 General Election. This week, District 1 Supervisor candidates Chris Watts and Amanda Ragan share their thoughts.
Each candidate was asked to supply a brief personal biography, discuss specific issues which motivated them to seek office and their top priorities if elected.
Chris Watts
Hello, I’m Chris Watts, your County Supervisor in the Mason City, Owen, Portland and Dougherty townships until re-districting the Legislative Services Agency changed the demographics. I will still work to represent any and all Cerro Gordo County concerns.
I was born, raised and graduated from Eagle Grove, Iowa. I have been in the food service industry most of my life, selling to schools, restaurants, healthcare.
I am married to Pam, with two sons, William and Kory, two daughters, Kassie and Alyssa and four granddaughters.
I am currently Chairman of North Iowa Childrens Alliance, Decat Board member, a five-year board member of Public Health, 2nd Judicial Board member, and Central Iowa Community Services Board member. I have attended and participated in the following the past 6 years: Conservation Board, Fair Board, Board of Adjustment and Planning & Zoning Board. I am a former Elks Lodge, Moose Lodge and Jaycee member.
I ran for office because I just wanted to get involved and make a difference in our county. I had many neighborhood involvements, such as the Lilac beautification along 19th St. S.E, 15 years spear-heading our neighborhood clean-up, Georgia Hanford Park equipment additions. Projects like these showed results in the living
conditions around us and how working together benefits many. I took it to a larger level with the County.
I am proud of the tax savings we’ve worked on while improving the infrastructure within the county, including re-doing many roads, bridges, culverts and a lot of drainage.
When I ran, I promised the voters things:
•Term limits: which I’m halfway through. I firmly believe in this and it should be for ALL elected positions.
•Pay freezes for the Supervisors: six years running so far.
•Attention to our aging roads and bridges: Many road and bridge projects completed in the past six years.
The County infrastructure had deteriorated over the years and we tackled the County Maintenance facilities. The new Engineering facility is up and running next to the Law Enforcement Center. The Ventura Shed should open this next month with Thornton hopefully by January. These replaced World War II era facilities that were hard to handle the larger equipment built over the years. They are strategically located to better serve the county needs. We reduced the bond by lowering the interest rate on the law enforcement center and should be paid in full in the next three years, saving $231,000.
One of my larger accomplishments was switching from County Social Services-CSS, to Central Iowa Community Services-CICS. Not only were there cost savings that we put back into the service fund, but we added two new services. One was Mobile Crisis Response, which law enforcement uses a lot. The other, Community Based Crisis Stabilization.
The very first year I served we held the tax levy even, while the last five years, we reduced the levy each year.
My top priority if elected would be to finish and bring up to date the County Maintenance facilities. These updates and new locations should better serve the residents’ needs throughout the county. Three things that will be huge issues going forward are: Carbon Solutions pipeline wanting to use emmenate domain in developing their for-profit project, wind energy and solar farm development, and drainage to become fore front issues this next year.
Amanda Ragan
Amanda Ragan is a resident of Cerro Gordo County, who has lived, farmed, and supported the county her entire life. She is a graduate of Rockwell-Swaledale High School, North Iowa Area Community College, and Buena Vista University.
For 25 years, she served as executive director of the Community Kitchen of North Iowa and the Mason City Meals on Wheels program. During that time, her local commitment to service has extended to North Iowa Band Festival Planning Committee, 2022 Mason City RAGBRAI Committee, Mason City Sesquicentennial Committee, the Kinney Pioneer Museum Board, the Buena Vista University Alumni Association Board, the Francis Lauer Youth Services Board, and the Northern Lights Homeless Shelter Board.
Amanda is now completing 20 years as a State Senator in the Iowa Legislature. She served on several key committees including Appropriations, Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, and Health and Human Services. Amanda has also served on the state’s Healthy & Well Kids in Iowa (HAWK-I) board of directors. Currently, Amanda serves on the Committee on Aging, Council of Human Services, Juvenile Justice Reorganization Committee and Health Policy Oversight Committee. One of her notable successes was bi-partisan legislation which expanded Medicaid healthcare programs to more than
150,000 Iowans.
Amanda Ragan believes in public service at all levels which promotes what is best for the common good and provides reasonable, common sense, solutions to problems we face now and in the future.
She is married to her husband, Jim, and has two children and four grandchildren. She is a member of Trinity Lutheran Church and Mason City Sunrise Rotary.
While serving in the Iowa Senate I worked with many local supervisors and developed a greater understanding of the issues affecting our people.
The investment in mental health services is an important and ongoing issue. The core services developed have been an important part of access to quality health care. I have worked closely on these issues on a state level and believe this experience and background can be important as this program goes forward.
Supporting public health must be a continuing priority. With one of every four Iowans over the age of 65, it is critical to have access and good services available. Public health also plays a key role in the lives of young children. With the movement on a state level of the Public Health into the Department of Human Services, I believe it is critical to have a strong advocate at the county level to continue the investment in local health care programs.
Additionally, with all of the American Rescue Plan dollars that have flowed into the state, I have concerns once that money ceases to flow it will have a negative impact on Cerro Gordo County. I believe wise planning for our future is critical.
We have to encourage involvement in the County Comprehensive Plan by the citizens of Cerro Gordo County. It is an opportunity to address issues such and energy, zoning, and human services. It is important to look at these issues to see if ordinances need updating or changes to make them well-suited to the 21st Century.
My top priority would be to make sure county government runs effectively and efficiently. We have excellent departments and staff and they should be encouraged to continue doing good things in support of our county residents.
I have always believed it is important for all public officials to be responsive to the needs of our county residents.
In order to give people an opportunity to have their voices heard, I plan to hold day or evening listening posts in neighborhoods and communities throughout Cerro Gordo County.
