“We have been diligent and frugal with taxpayer funds,” Supervisor Mark Campbell said.

He said the county is required by state law to have a balanced budget.

His opponent, Republican Nathan Montgomery, asserted that the county has a $2.83 million deficit, while Clayton Bills, the Republican candidate for another seat on the board, said the deficit is $1 million.

The Board of Supervisors, Montgomery said, is to have oversight of “every penny” of county money.

-Messenger photo by Bill Shea
Clayton Bills, left, a Republican candidate for Webster County Board of Supervisors, listens as Supervisor Bob Thode, a Democrat, speaks during a candidates’ forum Thursday evening at Iowa Central Community College.

The give and take over the budget produced the lightest moment of a nearly two hour forum that featured eight candidates for various county offices.

Montgomery and another Republican supervisor candidate, John Cochran, both said that the county should cut back on things like pens and paper to save money. Cochran specifically said plain pens rather than ones that have Webster County printed on them should be used.

“I’m doing my part, my pen says Pelham Blue Ribbon Waters,” Democratic Supervisor Bob Thode said, drawing laughter from a crowd of about 100 people in the auditorium in the Bioscience and Health Sciences Building at Iowa Central Community College.

“The budget is good right now,” Thode said.

“Our board works as a team,” he added.

-Messenger photo by Bill Shea
Webster County Sheriff Luke Fleener, left, a Republican, and Deputy Sheriff Trevir Michehl, the Libertarian candiate for sheriff, participate in a candidates’ forum Thursday evening at Iowa Central Community College. Jim Kersten, the forum’s moderator, sits between them.

The forum also featured Republican Sheriff Luke Fleener, and his Libertarian challenger, Deputy Sheriff Trevir Michehl.

A written question submitted by an audience member asked Michehl to state why he changed political parties twice in the last four years. Michehl ran for the Democratic nomination for sheriff in 2020, losing the primary election to Sgt. Tony Walter. This year, he challenged Fleener in the Republican primary and lost. He then became the Libertarian nominee for the office.

“When I was asked to be up here I made it very clear that I was not going to do a Jerry Springer type of a show,” he said when forum moderator Jim Kersten asked him the question.

He then said there was “no particular reason” why he ran as a Republican. He said after the Republican primary, the Libertarian Party asked him to be its nominee.

“I thought why not go for it,” he said.

The forum sponsored by the Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance and the college, featured multiple candidates for multiple offices.

Krystal Lloyd, the Democratic nominee for Webster County auditor was present. Her opponent, Shauuna Abrams, was not.

In District 2 for the Board of Supervisors, Campbell is seeking his fourth term while Montgomery is making his first run for public office. District 2 is much of the southern half of the county.

In District 3 for the Board of Supervisors, Thode is seeking his second term. He faces a challenge from Bills. District 3 is eastern Fort Dodge.

In District 5 for the Webster County Board of Supervisors, Cochrane, a Republican from Fort Dodge was present. His opponent, Democratic incumbent Nick Carlson was not. District 5 includes western Fort Dodge, Clare and rural areas of northwestern Webster County, including Deer Creek, Douglas and Jackson townships.

In addition to questions about the budget, the candidates for supervisor were asked what they would do to fight the proposed carbon dioxide pipeline through Webster County, a project that has been approved by the Iowa Utilities Commission.

Cochran said he thinks the county needs to join a coalition of seven other counties challenging the pipeline in court.

Thode said there is no need for Webster County to spend taxpayer money joining a lawsuit that is already under way.

“I think we made it very clear that we are very against eminent domain,” he added.

Eminent domain is a legal authority granted to Summit Carbon Solutions that would enable it to get land for the pipeline from property owners who are unwilling to sell it.

Bills said he is “100 percent against the pipeline.”

Montgomery said he is opposed to eminent domain and will always “defend against the pipeline.”

Campbell said he signed a letter opposing the pipeline and eminent domain.

Asked about opportunities to promote growth, Bills said he is focused on reducing the crime rate.

“Crime is our No. 1 issue,” he said.

He said he is running on a platform of public safety and low taxes.

The candidates for sheriff were asked for their position on the Second Amendment right to bear arms.

“Our Iowa Constitution says if you are legally able to own a firearm than you should be able to do that unless there is a prohibit in place that says you are a felon or a domestic abuser and I go right along with that,” Fleener said.

Michehl said “I am completely on board with the Second Amendment.”