The Fairfield Area Chamber of Commerce held its annual Meet the Candidates Forum on Tuesday evening, October 13th, at the Fairfield Arts and Convention Center, featuring candidates for Jefferson County Supervisor, a presentation on the Fairfield Community School District bond referendum, and candidates for Iowa House District 87.
Jefferson County Supervisor
Incumbent Lee Dimmitt, who has served as Jefferson County Supervisor for 16 years, faced challenger Jerry Leonard in the first portion of the forum. Leonard spent more than three decades in the building trades industry and said he is motivated by a desire to rebuild public trust in county government.
When asked about the most pressing needs facing Jefferson County, Dimmitt pointed to the continued development of the county’s ambulance service as a key accomplishment and a foundation to build on. “Starting something from scratch that you’ve never done before was extremely difficult,” Dimmitt said. “But I think it’s something that we, as the residents of Jefferson County, can stand up and be proud of.” He also cited existing partnerships between the public and private sectors as a driver of the county’s progress.
Leonard highlighted concerns about youth engagement and economic stagnation. “We’re not engaging these people and realizing it’s their world we’re building,” he said, noting the low presence of younger residents at the forum. He called for a fresh approach to economic development, including supporting agriculture-adjacent industries like a new dairy operation coming to the county.
On the topic of infrastructure, both candidates acknowledged the challenges of road and bridge maintenance with limited funding. Dimmitt noted the county has 800 miles of road and more than 140 bridges, and said outside competition for materials is nearly nonexistent. “We get by with less money,” Dimmitt said. “We use spit, chew and gum and baling wire and hope to get by for a few years until we can develop some money.” Leonard, drawing on his background in road construction, said neighboring counties are jointly purchasing specialty equipment to cut costs, and suggested Jefferson County explore similar arrangements.
When asked how each would handle decisions that residents disagree with, both candidates emphasized transparency and communication. “Be honest, be respectful, do your research,” Dimmitt said. “You’re not going to make everyone happy all the time.” Leonard echoed the importance of listening first. “If people have their opinions, we need to listen to them,” he said. “That builds public trust.”
In his closing statement, Leonard emphasized a need for change. “Lee’s done a great service for us in the county. But we can’t stay with the status quo and continue to say, ‘Well, it used to work.’” Dimmitt closed by expressing gratitude for the opportunity to serve. “I love this job,” he said, “and I appreciate all of you for giving me the opportunity.”
FCSD Bond Referendum
Fairfield Community School District Superintendent Zach Wigle took the stage following the supervisor candidates to give a presentation on the $24.8 million GO bond referendum appearing on the November ballot. He outlined the district’s strategic plan, academic performance data, and the two-phase approach to middle school facility improvements.
Wigle said the district’s performance profile score of 67.63 percent exceeded the state average of 63.28 percent, and that graduation rates are well above the state average while dropout rates have declined significantly. He noted the district has more than 120 days of net cash on hand and said enrollment was up for the first time in ten years.
Phase one of the middle school project, funded through $22.5 million in SAVE bond dollars already secured plus $4 million in existing SAVE fund reserves, involves a 50,000 square foot addition to the north end of the building. That project is already in the design development phase, with construction expected to begin in the spring and new classrooms ready for the fall of 2028.
Phase two, funded by the GO bond if it passes, would complete the project by demolishing older portions of the building and finishing the overall facility. Wigle said he has heard clearly from the community that property tax increases are not acceptable, and he is committed to keeping the levy flat at approximately $12.70. “If it gets voted in, we would adjust where those funds are going. We’re not going to raise the levy,” he said.
He also addressed a question about gymnasium space, noting that while a gym is included in the bond, expanded gymnasium facilities would be tied to a separate capital campaign and Pathfinder grant writing effort expected to launch after the vote.
Iowa House District 87
Eight-year incumbent Representative Jeff Shipley faced Democratic challenger Tom O’Donnell in the final portion of the forum.
Representative Shipley said his top priorities include addressing inflation, which he described as the erosion of wealth through expansion of the money supply, and continued work on expanding access to therapeutic substances like psilocybin. He said a bill to allow its use passed the House twice before being stopped in the Senate. On education, Shipley cited legislation restricting cell phones in schools and limiting screen time, expressing concern that over-reliance on technology is making students less cognitively capable.
O’Donnell framed the election as a referendum on a decade of Republican governance in Iowa, citing a projected $1.2 billion state budget deficit, lagging GDP growth compared to the national average, and the closure of rural hospitals and clinics. His stated top priorities are properly funding schools, preserving rural hospitals, improving oversight and staffing in care centers, and ensuring clean water.
On workforce development, Shipley said community colleges are better aligned with local workforce needs than four-year universities, and called for greater career readiness at the high school level, pointing to the welding academy at Cardinal as an example worth replicating. O’Donnell said the state needs to create a more welcoming environment to keep young people in Iowa, adding that two of his own children have left the state with no plans to return.
On property taxes, Shipley expressed openness to exploring the elimination of property taxes on primary homesteads entirely, while calling for downward pressure on local spending and consolidation of duplicative government services. O’Donnell said he opposes the current property tax caps, calling them a “ham-handed” approach that damages local governments’ ability to deliver services. He proposed revisiting the IWILL tax, a 3/8-cent sales tax approved by voters years ago but never implemented, with a portion going back to cities and counties for property tax relief.
On rural health care, O’Donnell called for ending Medicaid privatization, citing administrative burdens and denied claims as factors that are damaging hospital bottom lines. He noted Van Buren County Hospital receives 26 percent of its revenue from Medicaid. Shipley focused on preventive care and food-as-medicine initiatives, arguing the state is currently “subsidizing the illness and then subsidizing the healthcare.”
In closing, O’Donnell said he has knocked on nearly 5,500 doors across the district and called for a restoration of balance in state government. “I’m for the people. I’m for the kids in rural schools. I’m for the seniors without oversight in care centers,” he said. Shipley said he remains focused on limiting government spending and individual empowerment, and closed by noting that despite acknowledging his own flaws, “I think I am the better candidate here.”
The forum was sponsored by the Freeman Kevenides Law Firm. In-person absentee voting is now underway at the Jefferson County Auditor’s office. Election Day is Tuesday, November 3rd.
