News : Candidate Resume: Kellie VanRee for Supervisor

Since I submitted my background information in a prior article, I would like to take the opportunity to explain why I am the best candidate for Benton County Supervisor. My goals are simple and are answers to the highest priority problems I feel Benton County is currently experiencing.

1. Honesty, Transparency, and Trust. Unfortunately, the current Supervisors have lost the trust of Benton County citizens by their actions. Trust is not given it is earned. This will be a challenge for any candidate who wins the election, however, by being honest and following through on whatever is stated during meetings is how this will happen. Transparency is crucial to earning this trust. I will not vote to enter into a closed meeting unless it meets requirements by Iowa Code.

2. Reducing spending. Our budget and spending practices are off the charts. We need to truly evaluate what expenses and budgets are being requested to ensure the benefits that will be gained are worth the expense. I've also been a big voice for understanding what the county employees see as beneficial to retain their employment. I read a report recently from the TIAA Institute (Toward an Employee Value Proposition in the Healthcare Sector) that states employees under the age of 40 were more likely to value non-wage benefits such as work-life balance, flexibility, opportunities for career advancement as more important than wage. While wage plays a vital role in recruiting and retaining employees, it is not the only factor that we need to consider, and I think issuing automatic pay increases without first understanding what the actual county employees desire is potentially not benefiting us. I have several other examples of ways to reduce spending and would love to visit with anyone that wants to know more.

3. Updating ordinances. Some of our ordinances are pretty outdated and not in line with the current Iowa Code. For example, our land use ordinance. Iowa Code states that while agriculture is our primary industry in Iowa we also need to take into account housing diversity, businesses, etc. I am not in favor of eminent domain however, if a farmer chooses to sell some of their farm ground to develop or for commercial use we need to consider it. If we don't get businesses and new residences into Benton County our tax burdens rest on all of our current residents and frankly I'm tired of seeing increases and reliance on our property taxes.

In the last six months I've spent countless hours investing my own time into truly understanding the Supervisor role and listening to citizens across the county. I've consistently attended whatever meetings I can fit into my schedule while maintaining full time employment and being a mom and wife. My boss recently wrote me a letter of endorsement that I will be sharing on my Facebook page soon but I want to share a small part of it. "In today's world, many people often talk about needed changes, but few lean in and step forward to do the work necessary to implement those changes - not Kellie. She's a hard worker who not only will raise her hand to help but also do the necessary research and work to implement positive change. She's also collaborative and listens to others to ensure the best possible solutions to the problem at hand are pursued." If I were not running for office, I know I would be the type of candidate that I would want in office.

Please make sure to take the time to vote on June 4th. This primary election is a pivotal vote for the future of Benton County!

Editor's note: if you are a Benton County Candidate for the primary in June and you'd like to submit an article about why you'd like to be elected, feel free to zap me your resume as well! Send it to: VintonToday@hotmail.com