Government : Meet The Candidate Scott Hepker

Editor's Note: As always, Vinton Today invites all of our political candidates to share in their own words their life story and their goals for the office they are seeking. Today we hear from Scott Hepker, the Democratic candidate for Supervisor. Below are Hepker's comments: Hello! Here is a little about myself. My wife, Mary, and I live at what we like to call “Hepker Acres,” my family farm west of Urbana. I began farming in 1993 after moving to my Grandparent’s farm. I am retired from the Iowa Department of Transportation after 32 years of service, and I currently work part-time for Benton County Transportation as a Transit Driver and I still farm. Mary and I have been married for 34 years and we have two children; Meghan and Matthew. Thanks to them, we have two beautiful grandchildren, Madeline and Izaiah. Mary and I enjoy our little piece of heaven up in Harpers Ferry, Iowa at our cabin, where I can enjoy one of my favorite hobbies, fishing. But, one of my true passions is flying. I received my pilot’s license in 2012 and fly whenever I can find time. Serving the community has always been a big priority for me. Here is some of my community work: 17 years as a volunteer with the Urbana Fire Department 15 years as an EMT with the Urbana Ambulance Service Former member of the Urbana City Council Former member of the Urbana planning and zoning board Current member, and Coleman Award honoree of the Urbana Lions Club Current three-term member of the Polk Township Trustees Nominating committee for East Central REC Board of Directors Member and volunteer at the Urbana Christian Church Four year term on the Iowa State Extension Council Former assistant 4-H leader for Polk 101 4-H Club Member of the Vinton Airport Commission Currently serving on the Board of Directors for USA Communications in Shellsburg I am running for the Board of Supervisors to serve the citizens of Benton County by bringing my extensive experience and pride in Benton County to the Board. My volunteer and community service experience I believe will prove to be a great asset for our county. I have five areas of concern for our county: Public Safety-We are fortunate to have excellent Police and Sheriff’s Department in our County sincerely committed to serving and protecting all citizens. We have committed volunteer firefighters, EMT, and Paramedics on call 24/7 to protect life and property. I believe providing them with the financial resources they need, and expressing our frequent gratitude for their service is a key responsibility of our county government. Secondary Roads-Maintenance and repair of Benton County’s 327 bridges and 1,249 miles of roadway are not only important for safe travel but doing so efficiently is important for the county’s budget. I look forward to using my 32 years with the Iowa Department of Transportation when issues concerning our roads and bridges are before the County Board of Supervisors. Economic Development-Benton County is well-positioned for growth and can best reach economic development goals by working closely with Benton Development Group. As a county, we have some great resources many other counties lack. Our proximity to the larger communities to our north and south and access to two U.S. highways and I-380 are selling points we should stress. We have an airport in Vinton and one in Belle Plaine, providing access to both the north and south ends of the county. While attracting new businesses and providing jobs is important, I also believe we need to focus on maintaining and protecting the investments already made in creating our vibrant, livable communities. Protecting those investments means doing all we can to support our educational opportunities, provide access to health care, and provide for public safety. County Parks and Recreation- I thoroughly enjoy being outdoors, whether it is to work on the farm, or when I spend time fishing. Providing recreational opportunities through our county park system, and practicing good stewardship on the farm to maintain and improve water quality are both important to me. As we move into the future we will be faced with decisions about water management, and those decisions will impact our recreational opportunities, as well as the health and wellbeing of our people, our wildlife, and the land we depend on. Long Range Planning- A child who finishes kindergarten this spring will graduate in 2030. The year 2030 seems a long way off, but we all know how quickly our children grow to become adults and parents. We should be doing all we can to prepare for the world they will be living in, and that means carefully thinking plans for growth, development, and improvements to the quality of life Benton county offers. Benton County is a great place to live. That is why Mary and I chose to call Benton County home and raise our family here. You can’t beat it! A few fun facts about Scott: Q. First job? A. BALING HAY Q. One place in the world you really, really wish you could visit? A. IRELAND Q. Favorite candy bar? A. SNICKERS Q. Iowa or Iowa State? A. BOTH OF COURSE ? Q. Favorite Actor: A. JOHN WAYNE Q. Favorite President: A. ABRAHAM LINCOLN