Rick McDaniel, former Police Chief in Belmond and Republican, is running to represent the same area he once policed over. With over 33 years of public service working at the county and local levels in three Wright County Cities, Rick McDaniel feels he has an excellent understanding of how government works. McDaniel, who has been serving the public most of his adult life, considers he still has a lot to offer in making his community a better place. Rick shared with The Wright County Monitor that his main goal if elected is to keep Wright County working together “to benefit all of us”.
How do you plan to approach budgetary decisions as a county supervisor, balancing fiscal responsibility while meeting the needs of various county departments and programs?
This is one of the primary responsibilities of the Supervisors. With over 33 years of public service in this county, I have a good working knowledge of government budgeting. For the last 10 years, it was my responsibility to set the budget for the police department. There is no simple answer, but you use the money you have to help the most people you can.
How do you plan to ensure equitable access to public services across different communities within the county?
This is not a simple question. It could be interpreted in several ways. One way would be to look at this and think you mean all the cities and rural areas. If that is the case, then we have to work together and not separately for example this count was the first to have all the EMS departments in this county to work together to help get the emergency medical care to everyone in this county that needs it. I have been a part of this from the beginning and am very proud of what we have accomplished.
What initiatives would you prioritize to promote economic growth and job creation in our county?
We need to look at economic growth for the county, as a whole, and not just in one part of the county. We need all the communities working together. More than that, we need citizens of the county to promote the county and to invest in economic growth.
How would you engage with citizens to understand their needs and concerns, and how would you advocate for them at the county level?
If elected, it would be my duty to fight for the needs and concerns of my constituents that elected me. To understand their needs and concerns, I would make myself available for them to talk with. As Chief of Police in Belmond, I had an open-door policy. I would continue this as Supervisor.
What is your strategy to build relationships with state and federal officials to advance the interests of our county?
We are a small rural county in Iowa and it is very difficult to have a small voice heard in a large room. By working and standing together, all five Supervisors, Mayors, City Council members, Township Trustees, and citizens, we can turn that small voice into a bigger voice that cannot be ignored.
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Lynn Loux, a long-time Belmond resident, is a candidate for District 4 of Wright County on the Wright County Board of Supervisors. Loux, who identifies with the Republican party, has a skill set and extra time he feels would provide him with a certain type of insight into representing Wright County.
Loux when asked about his professional background, shared that he worked as a mechanic for 40 years at John Deer and has managed his own family farm for 10 years. Along with experience in agriculture, Loux has served on the Belmond school board for seven years, three as president. As a volunteer for the ambulance service, a member of their board, chairperson of the administrative console for Belmond Methodist church, and experience in running various types of meetings, he has a unique experience with the public.
Loux is running to represent District 4 on the Wright County Board of Supervisors because he feels the Belmond area needs representation. He shared when asked why he is campaigning. Loux shared further that in September, his wife passed away. The loss left him with a need to stay busy. He felt putting his experience to bring about positive change in Wright County was the best use of his time. One issue Loux feels needs to be addressed is the quality of property taxes. “I don’t have all the answers,” Loux stated of his experience within politics, sharing his ability to learn what Wright County’s citizens need and want with an open line of communication.
A project he would like to see enacted in Wright County is providing incentives to bring new businesses to our area. While a budget hearing has already been held and a budget decided on, Supervisors need to consider the information provided by each Wright County Department manager while constructing the budget Loux shared with the Wright County Monitor. “I would trust the judgment of those department heads, review the input, and compare information,” he stated.
According to Loux, working relationships with other Supervisors are necessary to ensure the success of the board as a whole. If elected, Loux feels he would be open to input from citizens. “It [final decisions] isn’t up to me. I’m just a representative for the people,” he stated. Loux feels that ensuring an open line of communication with state representatives is important, too. He brings up the much-debated issue of the carbon pipeline in Wright County and states issues like that make it necessary to stay in touch with state representatives such as Mark Thompson and Dennis Guth.
Voters can cast their ballot for one candidate from each district. Primary elections are on June 4, 2024. For more information, please contact the Wright County Auditor at (515) 532-2771. This article is part four of a five-part series highlighting Wright County Supervisor Candidates and does not reflect the views of The Wright County Monitor or sister publications.
