A couple of Van Buren County Democrats recently received awards from the Iowa Democratic Party.
At its Regional Hall of Fame gathering on October 12 in Mount Pleasant, the Iowa Democratic Party honored Twyla Peacock with its 2025 Outstanding Volunteer award for the area that includes Van Buren, Henry, Lee, Des Moines and Jefferson counties.
According to the Van Buren County Democratic Party, Peacock, 84, was first elected to office in 1986, winning the Van Buren County Recorder’s race and served for 17 years. Peacock was the first Democrat elected to that office since 1964. She also served 16 years on the Keosauqua City Council.
Peacock was Van Buren County Democratic Party chair and a frequent delegate to district and state conventions. She and others operated a food concession during fall county-wide celebrations and annual motorcycle rallies to raise money for candidates.
Keosauqua Mayor Melissa Mahon also received an award honoring her as the Iowa Outstanding Elected Official for 2025.
Mahon, 47, a certified registered nurse anesthetist, was elected on a write-in campaign in 2021. Since then, officials say she collaborated with the city council to complete a range of capital and public works projects. Technicians conducted a full video inspection of sewer lines to assess their condition and prioritize maintenance. Crews also examined and repainted water towers to preserve this critical infrastructure.
This year the city finished mapping the entire water infrastructure with a geographic information system so workers can modernize records and the council can improve planning and management. The city also established a regular equipment rotation schedule to boost reliability
and manage long-term costs.
Mahon has led other improvements that supporters say improved residents’ quality of life. The city finished work on a baseball complex, including contracting with a local restaurant to operate the concession stand. The council also supported plans for new sports courts, to include pickleball, tennis and bocce ball, expanding recreational opportunities for citizens. The city also began work on new Des Moines River boat launches, finalizing a project in development since 2018.
