SULLIVAN'S SALVOS
September 16, 2021
Sullivan’s Salvos 9/21/21
In this edition:
*Kudos to the Johnson County Public Health Department!
*Legal Issues and the Implications
*California Recall Election
*Rural Iowa “Ignored”?
*Wilson’s Orchard
*Did You Know?
*Kudos to the Johnson County Public Health Department!
The pandemic has not gone away. And neither has Johnson County Public Health! It is not easy going to work every day knowing you will be mocked, mistreated, and perhaps even threatened. Especially when all you are trying to do is to keep people healthy.
But the folks at Johnson County Public Health come in every day with smiles on their faces. Then they work long, hard days trying to ensure that we all stay healthy. You have heard it before, but it is true: these are heroes! Thank you all!
*Legal Issues and the Implications
I got sued a few weeks ago. That is not necessarily unusual for a County Supervisor; it has occurred several times during my time on the Board. Getting sued does, however, impact what I am able to do in certain circumstances.
In this case, some of the same folks who sued me continue to want to speak with me. I have chosen to follow the advice of legal counsel, and avoid those conversations until the legal complaint is resolved.
I will typically speak to most anyone. But if you sue me, then want to speak with me? You are going to need to wait until the legal issue is behind us.
I am sure you will hear several different versions of what a terrible person I am. But this is what is up. Thanks for understanding.
*California Recall Election
By the time you read this, voting will be finished in the California Gubernatorial Recall Election. I think it is worth noting just how much bad policy is at play here:
First, recall elections are a bad idea. The winner of a duly contested election should maintain that office until the next scheduled election. Having some type of impeachment process makes sense, and perhaps even an automatic disqualifier if convicted of a felony. But failing that, the person should remain in office. To do otherwise rejects the voice of the people.
Second, far too few signatures are required. Granted, I oppose recall elections even if EVERY voter signs a petition. But if you are going to have a recall, the bar should be high.
Third, ballot access is too easy. There are 47 candidates appearing on the recall ballot. That tells me that it is too easy to get on the ballot.
Fourth, in California’s method, if the Governor is recalled, you simply move to question 2 – who should replace them? This means that the new Governor might get 10 or 20% of the vote, yet become Governor! In fact, the incumbent could “lose” with 49%, and be replaced by someone who got 10%. Crazy.
Fifth, the recall system can be bought by a billionaire. Just hire canvassers to get the signatures, and the Governor faces a recall election. Then the billionaire can spend billions on attack ads. It is all a very bad process!
I was glad to see Governor Newsome retained, and I hope California fixes this very bad set of laws.
*Rural Iowa “Ignored”?
I serve on a number of Boards and Commissions that include people from other counties. I am always amazed when they mention that they are afraid Linn and Johnson Counties will “dominate” said group. For the life of me, I do not see where this comes from.
Where does the idea come from that rural Iowa is ignored? I just reviewed the most recent Census data. Iowa has about 3,150,000 residents. 54% of Iowans (1,700,000) live in just ten counties. So one might expect Iowa to be a place where rural and urban interests both matter. Nothing could be further from the truth.
On pretty much all of these Boards and Commissions, we operate under a system of one county, one vote. So let’s just say, hypothetically, you have a region that represents Linn, Johnson, Cedar, Louisa, Washington, Keokuk, Iowa, Benton, Buchanan, Delaware, and Jones Counties. You have Linn and Johnson and all the counties surrounding them. If all those counties vote together, they outvote Linn and Johnson 9-2. Yet Linn and Johnson Counties have around 390,000 total residents. The other 9 counties have about 150,000 residents – far less than half of the two most populous.
Versions of this exist in every regional initiative of which we are a part. And honestly, it works OK. But not because the system is good. It works because for the most part, County Supervisors regardless of county have been fair-minded, decent people who want to make things work for everyone. If that ever changes, it could get ugly.
The ten counties that house over half the population have pretty much zero political power. Farm Bureau sets the agenda in Des Moines. The Governor and her staff will take calls from more rural counties; no such luck for the rest of us.
The Iowa Legislature is constantly spinning out new rules for local governments that ONLY apply to the ten most populous counties. Why? Because Iowa has government of, by, and for rural people. Urban dwellers can expect to be targeted, burdened, and punished.
So this idea that somehow the more populous county is going to “dominate” the group you are in? I think we may need to question this assertion.
*Wilson’s Orchard
Our apple tree is no longer, a victim of derecho, disease, and benign neglect. So while I can no longer offer you apples, I’d like to encourage you to visit my friend Paul Rasch at Wilson’s Orchard. Paul is a great guy doing great things with a great place!
Located just a few miles north of Iowa City, just off Highway 1, Wilson’s Orchard has been around a long time. If you have never been there, go! There are 120 types of apples, but much, much more. It really is a local treasure, and people of all ages should visit! It is particularly a “must-do” for the kids and grandkids!
For more information, see: http://www.wilsonsorchard.com.
*DID YOU KNOW? 68 of Iowa’s 99 counties lost population per the 2020 census. None of the ten most populous counties lost population.
Anyone interested in learning more about County government should take a look at the County website-
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---Rod
posted by Rod Sullivan @ 3:09 PM
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