SULLIVAN'S SALVOS

February 22, 2026

Sullivan’s Salvos 2/26/26

In this edition:

*RIP Paul Wilson

*RIP Jesse Jackson

*DVIP/RVAP Souper Bowl

*Night of 1000 Dinners

*Illegal Vote!

*Sullivan for Supervisor Event

*Did You Know?

*RIP Paul Wilson

I was sad to see the passing of Paul Wilson of Iowa City. Paul worked at Pizza Hut for many years. He loved his Hawkeyes, and was just a great guy. RIP, Paul.

*RIP Jesse Jackson

The Reverend Jesse Jackson passed away recently. Jackson was one of the giants of the Civil Rights movement in America. He was on the march from Selma to Montgomery. He joined the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) and worked alongside MLK full time. He drew praise from King as a young man running the SCLC’s economic development and empowerment program, Operation Breadbasket — “We knew he was going to do a good job, but he’s done better than a good job,” King said. And of course, Jackson stood next to MLK on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel when he was assassinated in 1968.

Jackson’s passing brings back a lot of memories for me. You all know how the Iowa Caucuses work; you do not really “vote.” You stand in a corner to express your preference. That said, my first ever Presidential “vote” was for Jesse Jackson in 1984. I caucused for him again in 1988. It was on the ’88 Jackson campaign that I met a couple folks who have remained great friends to this day.

A lot of people forget that Jackson won 11 states in 1988. His Operation PUSH and Rainbow Coalition (now Rainbow/PUSH) were effective organizations that were very centered on economic disparity. I remember several astute political observers pointing out that Jackson really never lost a debate. Instead, the question was always, “Is America ready for a black President?” The questions were always about our readiness, not his. It is interesting to see the ways in which Jackson’s campaigns cleared some paths for Barack Obama 20 years later.

Few remember his post-Presidential candidate life, but Jackson went on to achieve some great diplomatic victories. He secured the release of American prisoners from the former Yugoslavia, Syria, Cuba, Iraq, and Gambia. He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his efforts.

I am sure that somewhere in my subconscious, my appreciation for Jesse Jackson helped prepare me for parenting African American children. There are undoubtedly many Americans whose lives were positively touched by Reverend Jackson and his many efforts to make the world a better place.

RIP, Reverend Jackson.

*Big Brothers Big Sisters

The Sullivan for Supervisor team is once again raising money for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Johnson County by Bowling For Kids’ Sake. It is our 22nd consecutive year of doing so!

BBBS is REALLY important! Statistics show that having a trusted adult mentor makes an unbelievable difference in the life of a child. Kids with BBBS matches do better academically, are less likely to abuse drugs and alcohol, and are less likely to be involved in the criminal justice system. This simple idea WORKS.

Please contribute to the Sullivan for Supervisor team at:

https://secure.qgiv.com/event/account/2217839/campaign/

*Night of 1000 Dinners

The Night of 1,000 Dinners, a long-standing community celebration of International Women’s Day that has been hosted by the Johnson County United Nations Chapter for more than 25 years, will take place from 6-8 p.m. on Friday, March 6^th at Saint Andrew Presbyterian Church, 140 Gathering Place Lane.

The event will feature an international buffet, entertainment, a silent auction, and a program recognizing local organizations advancing United Nations Sustainable Development Goal #11: Sustainable Cities and Communities. This year’s honorees include Shelter House, The Housing Fellowship, and the Immigrant Welcome Network of Johnson County.

Proceeds from the event will benefit these organizations, as well as UN-Habitat, which promotes sustainable urban development, safe, resilient communities worldwide, and the educational work of the Johnson County United Nations Association.

Tickets are on sale now through March 1^st for $50; Student or limited income tickets are available for $20. Tickets can be purchased at the Eventbrite page.

*Illegal Vote!

A strange and unfortunate thing happened at our February 19 Board Meeting. I believe the Board broke the law, deciding to spend $1000 without a public vote, and without that expenditure noticed on the meeting agenda.

A bit of background: Johnson County is involved in a strategic planning process with Berry Dunn. Berry Dunn is a relatively large national company that has helped governments across the country with their strategic planning.

Johnson County set up an ad-hoc Strategic Planning Committee of 12 county employees to help determine the scope of services, etc. There are two Supervisors on the committee – Lisa Green Douglass and me.

During our last committee meeting, we discussed how we are going to get community input. We only paid Berry Dunn so much, so we have to be judicious as to how that input is collected. Berry Dunn made some recommendations (with prices attached). The methods we are going to use include dozens of one-on-one interviews, several targeted focus groups, email and online surveys, and community forums. They suggested a couple community forums; the committee suggested three. We agreed to three.

County staff started scheduling these sessions. It was decided to hold one in the northern part of the county (recently held in Solon) and one in the southern part of the county (recently held in Hills). There was also a plan to do one in the metro area. After some searching, larger, free locations in Iowa City were not very available. One of the committee members checked on her phone, and noted that the Coralville Library was open on one of the dates we needed. So the committee voted to use the CVPL.

I noted during this discussion that Iowa City is half the population of the county, and that we should probably hold something there. But time and money were short, and the committee argued that the CVPL was still quite accessible to people in Iowa City. (Plus online options exist.)

I was outvoted, but I understood and appreciated the committee’s reasoning. I accepted the plan.

Then, at our February 19 meeting, Supervisor Fixmer-Oraiz announced that there needs to be a public input session in Iowa City. Understand, the sessions were set. They had been advertised. Berry Dunn could add another, but they would need to make a special trip back to Iowa City at an additional cost of $1000. And an already-overburdened staff gets more work.

This was not on the Board agenda. Yet for some reason, we discussed it. I mentioned my discomfort with the process, and my discomfort with voting to spend $1000 in this way. (I noted that I would NOT do so.) I was also uncomfortable with a single Board Member undercutting the decision of the whole 12-person committee.

Yet somehow, we magically are now setting up an Iowa City session and paying Berry Dunn an extra $1000. I still do not understand how. Who voted for this? When? Where is the record? How can this happen? How can public money be spent in this way? How can we violate open meeting laws like this?

This was not good. It is an example of the knee-jerk way in which too many things happen in Johnson County. Department Heads and Elected Officials are sick of this off-the-cuff style of governance. They want the Board to stop spending money willy-nilly. They want the Board to respect their time and their staff’s time. The want the Board to quit undermining their decisions. I agree with them. More importantly, I think this was illegal.

I know what a couple of my colleagues are going to say. They will double down on the idea that having a feedback session in Iowa City is *SO* critical compared to having one in Coralville. Interestingly, Iowa City recently held a very similar session for their own plan. I know, because I attended. I was the only Supervisor there, by the way. So it is really important – but not important enough for you to have attended in the city you hope to represent. Got it.

I know what a couple of my colleagues are going to say. They will note that $1000 is not much in the overall County budget. That is true. So exactly how much money is ok to spend without a Board vote? Is $5000 ok? $10,000? I imagine Department Heads would like to know, because each could spend $1000 pretty quickly on something.

I know what a couple of my colleagues are going to say. “It is no big deal. We voted on it the next week.” That is not how the law works. The same people would be livid if ICE simply said, “We’ll get the warrant next week,” or “We are taking you into custody. We will charge you with something next week.” Disregard for rules, laws, and norms is how America got to this place. We must do better.

If a bunch of Republicans did this, Johnson County voters would be irate. I think they should be irate here, too. We rail about Trump and Reynolds failing to follow the law. But when our side does it? Do we simply pretend it did not happen?

I hope the Johnson County Strategic Plan addresses some of these basics of good governance. This Board needs it.

*Sullivan for Supervisor Event

Sullivan for Supervisor Campaign Kickoff! With Special guest legendary Iowa City singer/songwriter Dave Moore!

Wednesday, February 25 at the James Theater, 213 N. Gilbert Street

5:00 until 6:30 pm; remarks at 5:40.

Please join Rod Sullivan as he kicks off his 2026 campaign

for Johnson County Supervisor District 4.

There will be snacks, a cash bar, and lots of great conversation.

Cannot make it but still want to contribute?

Please send a check to:

Sullivan for Supervisor

514 N. Linn St.

Iowa City, IA 52245

Or visit the website at:

https://www.rodsullivansupervisor.com

paid for by Sullivan for Supervisor. Melissa Fath, Treasurer.

*DID YOU KNOW? The cardiac arrest survival rate in Johnson County is 19.8%, nearly double the national average! Thank you Johnson County Ambulance!

Anyone interested in learning more about County government should take a look at the County website-

www.johnsoncountyiowa.gov.

"Sullivan’s Salvos" is sent once per week to any interested party. It will give a brief update on issues of interest to Johnson County residents.

These messages come solely from Rod Sullivan, and neither represents the viewpoints of the whole Board of Supervisors nor those of groups or individuals otherwise mentioned.

If you do NOT want the weekly E-mail, simply reply to this message, and type "unsubscribe" in the subject line.

If you know anyone else who might be interested, just forward this message. They can E-mail me at rodsullivan29@gmail.com with "subscribe" in the subject line.

As always, feel free to contact me at 354-7199 or rodsullivan29@gmail.com. I look forward to serving you!

---Rod

February 15, 2026

Tax season just got easier for qualifying households in Johnson County. The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program provides free tax preparation services for low- to moderate-income residents, thanks to trained volunteers from the Johnson County Social Services Department. These services will be available Jan. 31, 2026, through April 8, 2026.

The VITA program offers two convenient options for tax preparation assistance. Taxpayers with an income of $69,000 or less in 2025 can have their returns completed and filed by an IRS-certified tax preparer at no cost. Appointments are required. Additionally, taxpayers with an adjusted gross income under $89,000 in 2025 can access free software to prepare and file their taxes on their own. Support is available from trained volunteers. For more information on these services, visit www.johnsoncountyiowa.gov/vita.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) estimates that 20% of American workers do not claim the refundable tax credits for which they are eligible, such as the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). EITC is a special benefit for working people with an annual household income of less than $69,000. Workers who qualify for the EITC and file a federal tax return may be eligible for a portion or all the federal income tax taken out of their pay during the year. They may also receive additional cash back from the IRS. Even workers whose earnings were too small to owe income tax may be eligible for the EITC.

IRS-certified volunteer tax preparers help ensure that eligible taxpayers claim the EITC and any other qualifying tax credits, maximizing potential refunds.

Electronic filing is provided so that taxpayers can receive their tax refunds quickly. Taxpayers using VITA volunteers, or the free file software, to help file taxes are not charged for tax preparation or for receiving their refunds.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, visit www.johnsoncountyiowa.gov/vita. Translation services can be made in advance by calling Johnson County Social Services at 319-356-6090.

VITA is a partnership among Johnson County Social Services, the Iowa City Public Library, and the Iowa Center for Economic Success and sponsorship from GreenState Credit Union.

The February 3 edition of the Daily Iowan (DI) contained an article on the District 4 Supervisor race. Which would be great, except that they only spoke to my opponent.

According to the DI, Supervisor Fixmer-Oraiz said, “We do agree on a lot of things, but not everything, and our differences matter.” I would agree with that.

But then the article goes on to say, “Fixmer-Oraiz listed differences in voting on issues like funding for the Community Violence Intervention Program, size and scale of a new county jail, and training for county employees on what to do if approached by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.”

1. Community Violence Intervention. This is a relatively new program, started in 2024 through a collaboration between Neighborhood Centers of Johnson County, Johnson County Public Health, and the Johnson County Attorney’s Office. NCJC Executive Director Rachel Rockwell has a great deal of experience with violence intervention, and we hired two people, Jess Lang and Marques Brooks, who each have deep experience in the field. Marques, in particular, is a great story. Marques also works as a youth counselor at the Linn County Detention Center. As a child growing up in Iowa City, Marques was incarcerated at the very same detention center. Pretty cool story, huh?

A 2024 Iowa City Police report revealed the city saw half as many shootings and incidents of guns fired in 2024 as in 2023. So it seems we are making a difference! Do I support this program? Yes, I do!

2. Size and Scale of a new jail. I’m really not sure what Supervisor Fixmer-Oraiz means here. We had one vote on the size and scope of the jail, and we both voted yes. We are proposing a 120-bed new jail, that will have another 20 cells “shelled out” so that a future Board could expand the facility if they thought it was necessary. The facility will have both large and small spaces for meetings and programming. Again, we both voted for that. So I fail to see where there is disagreement. Perhaps they have changed their mind? Whatever the case, I am convinced that this proposal is the correct way to go for Johnson County.

3. Training for county employees around ICE concerns. Supervisor Fixmer-Oraiz wanted to do a request for proposals (RFP), potentially spending thousands of dollars on an outside entity to “train” county employees. But we could never get a clear sense of what that training would entail. County Attorney Rachel Zimmerman Smith objected for three reasons, citing A) serious concerns about county employees receiving work-related employment advice from someone other than her office, B) serious concerns about county employees receiving personal legal advice from anyone other than their personal attorney, and C) the proposed costs of said training.
Because of these concerns, the County Attorney’s Office decided to address the topic. County Attorney Zimmermann Smith and Assistant County Attorney Ryan Maas recently provided a training for county employees. And it was great! I attended. Approximately 60 other county employees attended from a wide variety of departments, and everyone I spoke with found it helpful. If employees feel they need more, I have not heard it.
So, do we differ in this area? I think we do. But I am proud of our response. It is legally sound and appropriate, and should serve to protect both immigrants and county employees better than a training done by outsiders who lack an understanding of county government.

I hope we get several opportunities to share what we think about various issues. If you have any questions about what I shared here, please let me know.

IOWA CITY, IA — The Iowa City Federation of Labor AFL-CIO is proud to announce its official endorsement of Rod Sullivan for reelection to the Johnson County Board of Supervisors in the 2026 election.

As a longtime union member and a tireless advocate for the working class, Rod Sullivan has consistently demonstrated a commitment to the values that build strong communities: fair wages, workplace safety, and the right to collective bargaining. Throughout his tenure, he has remained a steadfast ally to organized labor, ensuring that county projects support local workers and that public services remain robust and accessible.

"Rod Sullivan doesn’t just talk about labor values; he lives them," said Scott Punteney, President of the Iowa City Federation of Labor. "From defending project labor agreements to standing on the picket line with our members, Rod has proven he is the leader Johnson County workers need as we transition to district-based representation."

The Federation encourages all members and working families in Johnson County to support Rod Sullivan in the upcoming June primary and the November general election.

The Iowa City Federation of Labor represents over 25 local unions in Johnson and Washington Counties. The endorsement process includes a thorough evaluation to ensure candidates' goals align with labor's aims for racial and economic justice.

Every year, Johnson County honors employees who have worked for the county in 5-year increments. There is a short ceremony, and it is followed by lunch for the honorees.

This is one of my favorite annual events. There are many public employees we just do not see very often. Paramedics, Sheriff’s Deputies, and Medical Examiner’s Office Investigators are rarely in our building. Same goes for SEATS drivers, Secondary Roads workers, and Conservation employees. It is just nice to see people.

Regardless of whether it is an employee I see rarely or one I see every day, I simply love honoring our employees. I enjoy having the opportunity to look an employee in the eye, shake their hand, and say, “Thank you for your service.” It is a small but meaningful gesture.

We just held this event last week, and it fills me up with pride. We have incredible employees!