On April 18, the Johnson County League of Women Voters hosted a forum with three Democratic candidates running for county supervisor in District 2. One topic was the potential to add a county administrator, appointed by the board.
The discussion began with Janet Godwin, who said she had knocked on hundreds of doors in District 2 and found that “many believe that a county administrator is part of that solution,” referring to Senate File 75, in which the Republican-controlled Iowa legislature required Johnson County to divide into districts with voters choosing one supervisor each.
Godwin appeared to favor an administrator, incumbent Jon Green opposed one, and Jessica Andino said she wanted to learn more after the election, arguing change in board governance would be necessary.
County governance will change, and that’s the main point against hiring an administrator now. Because of Senate File 75, there will be changes among the supervisors. At least one incumbent won’t be returning and others may lose the primary. It will be a board in tumult. Changing governance now would add to that, reflecting unnecessary tampering with a stable system.
My proposal would be to get past the election and see where things stand. What, if any, problems does election by district cause to board governance? It would be difficult to address a problem if we can’t answer that question.
One thing Green got right in the Daily Iowan was, “I don’t support that change, both because of the disruption, but I think it critically misreads the political moment that we find ourselves in. Hiring an unelected county administrator simply places more distance between the will of the voters and the execution of county government.”
Isn’t the will of the voters what this is all about?
~ Published by the Daily Iowan on April 27, 2026.
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