~courtesy of The Scranton Journal
The Scranton Journal provided questionnaires to the Greene County supervisor candidates. Here are the responses received:
Supervisor District 1
Name, age, address:
Mick Burkett. No response to an email or text.
Linn Clipperley-Price, 54, Paton
Mick Burkett 
Linn Cipperley-Price
Current employment and past employment that may be relevant to the board of supervisors:
Clipperley-Price:
Currently
- Board Member/Co-founder Animal Protection and Education
- Dog Obedience instructor
- Mom of three children
- Previously
- DMACC, Adjunct instructor American Red Cross course for First Responders
- USDA’s Center for Veterinary Biologics
- United States Army, Medical Detachment / Veterinary Corp
- PAWS board
With these job skills I have been a leader, I have to pay close attention to detail and government regulations.
Current involvement in the community:
Clipperley-Price: I teach dog obedience classes at the Rec Center. I also volunteer with Animal Protection and Education Charity (A.P.E.). A.P.E. provides low cost vaccinations, microchipping, and spay/neuter packages to anyone with a dog or cat. I am a co-founder of this charity. I also try to help with some “behind the scene” activities at PAWS. Additionally, my husband and I have been foster parents for the State of Iowa.
Why are you running for supervisor?
Clipperley-Price: I have always thought politicians are people that will lie to your face. However, when a friend spoke to me about it, the idea made sense. I have a history of rolling up my sleeve and helping. I have been described as altruistic more than once. I want everyone to be proud of our county, with opportunities for jobs, recreations, and quality of life.
If elected, what are your two or three top priorities for Greene County?
Clipperley-Price:
- Meetings. The current time makes it very difficult for working people to attend.
- Factory Farming. EVERYONE, I have spoken with asks me, “Why are we still approving hog farms? Let the potential hog farmer make an effort to appeal to the DNR, stop making it a, “Walk in the Park.”
- Animal Control. My gut wrenches when I hear about people being bitten by stray animals. Animal control is about keeping our community safe!
What do you see as the challenges that Greene County is facing today?
Clipperley-Price: Ensuring our community is safe! We are currently having issues at our police department. Additionally, we have no animal control. We want to encourage people to live here. Having a safe community, good jobs, and affordable housing, are things we need to continue to always approve on.
What do you like most about living in Greene County?
Clipperley-Price: I love the feel of my neighbors and friends being like family. You seldom see that anymore, but we have it here in Greene County. I also love the idea we have places for us to take our children hiking, fishing, camping, canoeing and enjoying the great outdoors.
What would you tell someone who is considering a move to Greene County?
Clipperley-Price: We have great schools, and a great sense of community. Unlike other communities I have lived in, there are opportunities here for our children to stay here after they are done with school or move back after college. There are job opportunities here that other smaller counties do not have.
Final comments:
Clipperley-Price: I feel that my work experience, such as the United States Army, USDA, teaching at DMACC, starting a successful non-profit, will give me the working knowledge to serve the citizens well. As a biology major, I learned to look at all variables. My education from ISU in biology and my experience as a First Responder instructor will benefit our county emergency services system.
Supervisor District 4
Name, age, address:
John Muir, 61, Jefferson
Chris Henning, 73, Jefferson. (I speak of it as rural Cooper area, as I’m two miles from Cooper and eight miles from Jefferson)
John Muir 
Chris Henning
Current employment and past employment that may be relevant to the board of supervisors:
Muir: Farmer – cow/calf, corn, soybean operation with two brothers.
Henning: 1) 17 years at Meredith Publishing in Des Moines: supervisor, labor relations in 12-union shop, personnel/HR specialist hiring journalists, graphic designers, and everything from shipping clerks to corporate attorneys; supervisor and manager in Book Club customer and Client service; 2) 13 years working partner in a small asphalt paving road construction business; 3) 5 years corporate marketing and tradeshow events for a tech company in Phoenix; 4) 5 years first as unpaid volunteer at Jefferson Matters: Main Street and then as contractor with Greene County Chamber and Development; 5) nearly 30 years as a crop share conservation farmer and a women’s farmer mentor
Current involvement in the community:
Muir: Rippey United Methodist Church, Elks Club, Masonic Lodge
Henning: Jefferson Rotarian, Greene County farmers market, Raccoon River Watershed Association (chair)
Why are you running for supervisor?
Muir: To help continue building Greene County into a safe profitable place for people to live, retire, raise their families.
Henning: I’m a firm believer that if you think something should be done, you should speak up and be a part of the solution. I’m passionate about bringing people together to seek creative, common sense, fiscally responsible answers for our future. I can lead and I can work with people in making change happen. I am proud to do my part in growing Jefferson and Greene County’s place in Iowa’s rural economy.
If elected, what are your two or three top priorities for Greene County?
Muir: To continue to support the services that the county provides to the people of Greene County: law enforcement, ambulance service, secondary roads.
Henning: If elected, I pledge to work to
• Provide local government open and responsive to local concerns
• Emphasize community access and funding for our vital services—physical and mental healthcare, education, housing and jobs, public safety and law enforcement
• Protect our water, our natural areas, and natural resources in the Raccoon River watershed
Together, we can make it happen.
What do you see as the challenges that Greene County is facing today?
Muir: The costs associated with providing services. An example has been the cost of the ambulance service. But it is a service that is very necessary to continue to be a progressive county.
Henning: The county government needs a short course in strategic planning and in saving ahead for needed expenditures.
1) A strategic plan, working with other entities on “growing Greene County” and addressing some of those challenges that arise repeatedly would be first on my list. Thorny questions like “how much is “ENOUGH”; whether the question is hog confinements, wind turbines, or even how to spend the TIF and casino profits.
2) “TAXES” are not a dirty word to fear – there are services our communities need that we are willing to pay for. By planning ahead, the EMS systems; the next firetruck; the retrofits to the courthouse heating/cooling system; a modern jail – all essential services – can be purchased with a combination of taxes levied over time and county financing plans.
What do you like most about living in Greene County?
Muir: The sense of community. Everyone looks out for one another and the variety of things the county has to offer.
Henning: Roots. My own; and those of prairie grass; and skies. Inspiring skies. After years of living in the city, working, always wanting to go on vacation, then moving “home”, settling in, and realizing – I didn’t need to go on vacation at all, I was already in the place where I could relax, unwind and be myself.
What would you tell someone who is considering a move to Greene County?
Muir: That it would be a move that they would never regret. Greene County is a safe environment with good jobs and is continuing to plan for an even better future.
Henning: We need you – your ideas, your energy, and your work ethic – Greene County can only be better for each person who gets involved, lending their ideas, their views and their life experiences, and joining the county community in their own way. Greene County offers great rural broadband, cell service, a burgeoning tech industry; factories, industries, businesses and trades with good job opportunities, a rural hospital, a progressive school system, an awesome Career academy. There are fun things too – community libraries, welcoming organizations, supportive faith communities, arts and live theater, a movie theatre, bowling alley, farmers market, great parks, a paved bike trail, natural areas for hiking and camping and inside recreation facilities. All this, with small town and country living convenience, safe and accepting neighborhoods, slower paced lifestyles, lower cost of living, little traffic and short commutes on decent roads. So many great things are happening in Greene County and you can be a part of it.
Final comments:
Muir: I feel the county supervisors are doing things right and helping create opportunities right here in Greene County. I would appreciate your support on November 3.
Henning: PLEASE VOTE: You still have time to ask for and return an absentee ballot. In person voting is happening now at the courthouse east lobby (thru Nov 2). And November 3 Election Day Voting is available in your precinct from 7 am to 9 pm. Your vote is your voice! Speak up and be ready to do your part for a more inclusive county. Together, we can make that happen!
Supervisor District 5
Name, age, address:
Peter Bardole, 54, Jefferson
Ginny Showman, 63, Jefferson
Peter Bardole 
Ginny Showman
Current employment and past employment that may be relevant to serving as a supervisor.
Bardole: I currently farm with my father, brother and nephew near Rippey. I have worked construction and maintenance in the past and that knowledge has been helpful.
Showman: I’m retired but have worked a variety of positions. First part of my career working for the federal government, then in sales/marketing, project management, and finally in the financial industry.
Current involvement in the community:
Bardole: Rippey United Methodist Church trustee, and ex officio Greene County Development Corporation, Jefferson Matters; a Main Street and Chamber Community, Bell Tower Foundation, Region 12, Emergency Operations Committee, and Central Iowa Juvenile Detention.
Showman:
• President of History Boy Theatre Co, new non-profit
• President of the Friends of the Library (book sale going on now!)
• Board of Why Not Us
• Main Street – Tower View Team & promotions team
• Chair of Art on the Square
• Former board of TJG
• Member of Good Trouble in Greene County
Why are you running for supervisor?
Bardole: I am finishing my first term as supervisor and it has been challenging but rewarding. I believe I am helping make Greene County a better place to live and work. I would like to continue to be part of moving Greene County forward with the work the board has done to encourage and incentivize housing growth, growing current businesses and industries, bringing new industry to the county, providing broader educational opportunities, and technology improvements.
Showman: I want to help move Greene County forward. “This is how we’ve always done it” hurts the governing process. I will bring a new perspective to issues, as well as new ideas. Protecting our environment and listening to the needs, wants, and concerns of all our citizens in every community in the county with an open mind to make sure their ideas are heard and heeded.
If elected, what are your two or three top priorities for Greene County?
Bardole: Maintain the safety of our communities, this includes maintaining our ambulance service and law enforcement. We are purchasing the Midland Power building to house the law enforcement center to provide better service and allow for growth. Greene County has operated the ambulance service for about 18 months and we are working to give the best service to the citizens of Greene County. Greene County has a beautiful courthouse and work has been done to preserve the historical architecture. Now attention needs to be focused on upgrading and maintaining the mechanical systems to keep it functional.
Showman: Greene County has the enviable position of having too many jobs and not enough employees. Thirty percent of the people who work here live in neighboring counties. I will aggressively recruit new residents to Greene County using initiatives already in place, but underutilized. Reaching out to underserved people who typically need help with relocation expenses, housing, etc. Affordable housing needs to be a priority in the entire county.
What do you see as the challenges that Greene County is facing today?
Bardole: The biggest challenge I see is our jail is getting old and will soon need to be replaced. There are maintenance issues that are becoming worse every year. It is hard for me to ask the citizens of Greene County to pay higher taxes to build a jail even though it is needed.
Showman: An aging population and not enough people for the jobs we have. 102 CAFOS means could be our saturation point. Water quality is everyone’s issue. Leadership from county government, and improved communication and cooperation with municipalities in the county.
What do you like most about living in Greene County?
Bardole: It is home. Greene County has a good mix of small and large businesses town and country living, something for everyone.
Showman: Moving to Jefferson was life-changing for my husband and me in many ways. We wanted a slower pace with the feeling of belonging I had missed since growing up in a small town. We found a nice house in a nice town, and we soon fell in love with a warm and welcoming community on the verge of a rebirth. Being involved in the community has been the best part.
What would you tell someone who is considering a move to Greene County?
Bardole: Welcome! You will find friendly and helpful neighbors. Greene County has much to offer from a great school system to beautiful countryside, diverse entertainment options, appreciation for the arts, as well as a mix of large and small businesses to shop and work. Get involved, become part of the community, don’t just live here.
Showman: Do it! The people are friendly. You could not ask for a more beautiful place to live. I want everyone to experience what my husband and I have found here.
Final comments:
Bardole: I would like to thank everyone who has supported me in my re-election. I am proud of the work I have done the past four years and look forward to serving Greene County another four years.
Showman: There are so many opportunities to enhance the county and make it not just more inviting, but a better quality of life for all of us. We need to think beyond the typical and reach out to folks who have become disillusioned with life in big metro areas. Greene County is the best place to live, work, and play.
