The Scranton Journal submitted a list of questions to the candidates for the contested races in Greene County.
The Greene County sheriff candidate answers will be published in next week’s edition.
Here are answers to the contested Supervisor races, candidates listed in alphabetical order. Joe Gannon and Greg Ruth are running for District 1 Supervisor and John Muir and Victoria “Tori” Riley are running for District 4.
Greene County Board of Supervisors
Name, age, address:
Joe Gannon, 37, 2475 250th Street, Rippey – District 1
John Muir, 65, 1432 Q Ave, Jefferson – District 4
Victoria “Tori” Riley, 67, 405 S. Vine St, Jefferson – District 4
Greg Ruth, 67, 1712 160th Jefferson – District 1
Current employment and past employment that may be relevant to the Board of Supervisors:
Gannon: I am currently employed at Diamond Oil Company. I have been with the company for 13 years and in that time I have had multiple titles. Currently I manage a location where I am responsible for the budget and ensuring we are making good decisions that keep us profitable while maintaining reliable, timely service to our customers.
Muir: Self employed farmer
Riley: I have covered Greene County news, including the board of supervisors, since 1996, first for The Bee & Herald, and since 2014, for GreeneCountyNewsOnline. I understand the challenges the county faces in terms of employment and population. I also have a good general knowledge of agriculture (challenges and potential) and Greene County’s major employers.
Ruth: I have over 50 years of experience in the construction and roofing industry and have been a partner for over 30 years.
Our company has built over 30 houses around Greene County and we have assisted the school construction class with the construction of five houses. In my line of work, I have consulted with architects, engineers and designers. With my background and the knowledge I have acquired, I would be a valuable asset to the Board of Supervisors.
Current involvement in the community (Service organizations or church):
Gannon: I am currently a Junction township trustee, an active member of the Greene County Pork Producers, and have been on the Grand Junction Fire Department for 17 years. I am a lifelong member of St. Brigid’s Catholic Church in Grand Junction.
Muir: Rippey First United Methodist Church member, Perry Elks Club member, Elmo Masonic Lodge member. (Side note: moved to present address in 2020; have not changed memberships to the Jefferson/Greene County area yet)
Riley: I am a past president and president-elect of the Rotary Club of Jefferson, as well as an assistant governor in District 6000. I am on the board of the Jefferson Friends of the Library and board treasurer of the Community Players of Greene County. I’m also a longtime member of the RSVP 55+ advisory council.
Ruth: I am an active member of Trinity Lutheran Church. I sit on the Career and Technical Education Advisory Board for construction and industrial technology. I am a business owner of two businesses; C & R Construction and Pick Away Americana.
If elected, what are your two or three top priorities for Greene County?
Gannon: My why is pretty simple. I decided to run for Supervisor because I care about the future of our county. It is my opinion that at some point the next generation is going to need to be more educated and involved in local decisions as those decisions will have an impact that will last for generations to come. 1- Work to increase Greene county’s population; 2- Promote ways to increase collaboration between government entities to help maximize the use of tax dollars; and 3- Planning for the future. I would like to create long-term goals and a plan of how all different groups can work together to achieve those goals.
Muir: I would like to see through the completion of the new jail; the remodel of the courthouse (desperately needed for efficiency); and continue to listen to citizens about their concerns, whether I agree with them or not. It is good to hear all sides of things.
Riley: Priority issues for me would be: to thwart the efforts of Summit Carbon Solutions to build a pipeline across Greene County, with the pressurization of CO2 endangering the supply of water available to future generations of Greene County residents; to reverse the population decline in the county by welcoming cultural diversity; and to develop short-term and long-term plans for meeting the county’s infrastructure needs.
Ruth: My top priorities would be getting funding for the boiler and HVAC system in the courthouse. I would also like to provide a better understanding regarding the LOSST Funds that could be available so that it would not increase taxes for individuals on the ballot in the upcoming election.
I want to create small community representation and be a part of what the Supervisors can do in your community, which benefits all of us.
What do you see as the challenges that Greene County is facing today?
Gannon: Based on the 2022 census, we have seen a continued decline in the county’s population. That has a direct effect on many things in our county. This should be a priority for all residents of Greene County to work together to attract more people to move here and invest in our community.
Muir: Being competitive, in this economy, to retain and attract quality people in all jobs/positions in this County!
Riley: Declining population; costs increasing more than tax revenues, compounded by state-imposed caps on valuation increases; threats to the health of our soil and water that can jeopardize our way of life.
Ruth: I would like to see a better partnership with the school in the trade industries. It is important to get students involved in the trades and find instructors to teach those trades. We need to attract small businesses and families to Greene County, and continue to grow our population.
What do you like most about living in Greene County?
Gannon: I truly believe that one of the best things about Greene County is how connected we all are to each other. Through our schools we have created relationships that extend from one side of the county to the other due to a common interest. Our churches of multiple denominations are able to connect in this same manner through groups like our clergy association. I feel like those types of relationships make Greene County unique and very inviting. It is easy to get involved when more times than not you already know at least one person in any group or organization.
Muir: The people and the sense of community here. So many people that are willing put forth the effort to make Greene County a great place to live, shop, dine and raise a family.
Riley: I enjoy the friendliness of most people; the variety of organizations promoting various projects, giving many people opportunities to lead and serve; being away from bustle of urban areas; and our natural areas like Squirrel Hollow Park.
Ruth: 1) I enjoy knowing so many people in the county and being able to converse and interact with neighbors, residents, business owners and my customers. 2) I appreciate having great school systems that offer fine arts, music, sports, esports and many other extracurricular activities. These programs are so important to keep students involved and engaged.
What would you tell someone who is considering a move to Greene County?
Gannon: Our county is very inviting. We have all of the big city amenities surrounding our county while keeping the small town feel. We also have multiple employment opportunities in all parts of the county. We have an education system that has more than just the average K-12 opportunities. Greene County is the definition of Iowa nice.
Muir: There is no better place to call home!
Riley: I would invite anyone to move to Greene County. Since moving here in 1996, I have found it to be a great place to raise a family, with most of what we need right here, and the rest within an hour’s drive. Also, living here is less expensive than living in a city – our housing costs are lower, and the rather limited number of entertainment options makes it easier to live on a budget.
Ruth: All of our small communities in Greene County have something to offer. Small town living offers so many benefits to individuals, couples and families. Many businesses both big and small operate in our county and a new business would find many opportunities here. I believe that it is small town living at its best.
Final Comments:
Gannon: I have been working for several months now to educate myself on the roles and responsibilities of a County Supervisor. I can honestly say there is more to it than I thought from the outside looking in, but I can assure you that my plan is to learn from experience while continuing to learn and build a network of people. I would like to thank the people who are taking the time to educate themselves before voting in November. That is something I am passionate about. If you have further questions please feel free to reach out and ask. jggreene37@gmail.com. Thank you
Muir: It’s been a privilege and honor to serve the citizens of Greene County and I hope to continue to do that for 4 more years. I would appreciate your support and your vote.
Riley: I have more knowledge than most of what the county supervisors do and what they’ve done in the past. Along with that, I’m a lifelong learner and I would gladly do whatever training for the role of supervisor the Iowa State Association of Counties provides. As a journalist I honed listening skills as well as writing skills. I would like to put those listening skills together with my knowledge of the board of supervisors to serve Greene County residents.
Ruth: With my construction knowledge and experience, I offer something new and different to the Board of Supervisors. I want to be the voice for all of Greene County and if elected I would be the only supervisor living North of Highway 30. ~courtesy of The Scranton Journal
