IOWA CITY

One of the biggest Johnson County elections in years is happening Tuesday.

In addition to a $94.5 million bond referendum on a new jail and sheriff’s office, the election will determine five supervisor seats, per a new state law on select Iowa counties, instead of the two or three seats that are normally on the ballot in alternating two-year periods.

All five supervisor elections have Democrat and Republican candidates, but each voter will only vote for one supervisor seat instead of five at-large seats because a new state code divided the county into five districts.

Voters in southwest Johnson County will decide the District 3 supervisor; in Lone Tree, District 2.

In addition to five county supervisors, the attorney, treasurer and recorder positions are also on the ballot.

Election polling places will be open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday. Election information can be found online at: johnsoncountyiowa.gov/auditor/elections.

Here is a look at the candidates:

BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

District 1

LISA GREEN-DOUGLASS

Party affiliation: Democrat

Residence: Madison Township, rural North Liberty

Family: 1 daughter, 4 sons

Current position: Johnson County Supervisor, Vice Chair

Past offices held: Johnson County Supervisor since 2016, past Chair

Number of years as Democrat: Since registering to vote at age 18

Major accomplishments: Served on Steering Committee and Executive Committee that created the GuideLink Center, which is the first mental health access center in this region; proposed amendment to the county’s Unified Development Ordinance, which subsequently passed, reducing allowable impact on prairies from 15% to 0%; initiated discussions in 2017, leading to a current project of the human capital management system, thus modernizing our payroll system; chaired Johnson County Eponym Committee.

The News: What are your goals as Supervisor, if re-elected?

Green-Douglass: I plan to continue working with our community partners to fill gaps in our social safety net, and remove barriers to employment by increasing affordable childcare, transportation, and housing options. I am also committed to upholding the duties of a County Supervisor as per Iowa law. Finally, I will continue to support our County Engineer in their 5-Year Road Plan to keep our secondary roads and bridges well-maintained, though due to state-imposed property tax restrictions, we may have to reduce the number of projects per year. 

The News: What are the top three issues facing Johnson County?

Green-Douglass: 1. Managing growth in a safe and sustainable way while balancing the needs of our rural and agricultural communities with urban areas.
2. Ensuring adequate housing stock to serve a wide variety of income levels.
3. Continuing responsible use of taxpayer dollars to maintain services, improve our road system, and support our most vulnerable populations as the State moves to overtake local and regional agencies.

GREGORY ERCEG

Party affiliation: Republican

Residence: Solon

Family: Wife, Jan

Current position: Retired; part-time job, delivering auto parts.

Past offices held: I have never held a political office. I had 33 years of Federal Service between the Army and conducting Nation Security Investigations. I was also a Deputy Sheriff with Linn County from 1978 to 1979 and I was a Cedar Rapids Police Officer from 1979 to 1980 and 1984 to 1987. The break from 1980 to 1984 was for a Military Leave of Absence.

Number of years as a Republican: I initially registered as a Democrat in January 1974, but after being called a "baby killer" at Chicago O'Hare airport on Dec. 19, 1974, while waiting for my flight to take me home from Fort Gordon, Ga., for Christmas leave, I changed parties.

Major accomplishments: I led a Drug Suppression Team while I was an Army CID Agent. Our team developed information which resulted in a joint CID and German KRIPO operation that netted almost $790,000 in hashish and methamphetamine. There are other situations that I can not discuss.

The News: What are your goals as Supervisor, if elected?

Erceg: I want to get the Supervisors back in their lane and stop spending money that is, in my opinion, frivolous. In the Army, we called this Mission Creep. 

The News: What are the top three issues facing Johnson County?

Erceg: Out of control spending, water use and affordable housing.

District 2

JON GREEN

Party affiliation: Democrat

Residence: rural Lone Tree

Family: I live with my partner, Eleanore. No children.

Current position: Johnson County Supervisor At-Large, Chair.

Past offices held: Johnson County Supervisor since 2021, Chair in 2025 and 2026; Mayor, Lone Tree, 2018-19.

Number of years as Democrat: 25

Major accomplishments: The just-announced housing support program has been deeply informed by my time serving as Lone Tree mayor. Small towns don't have the staff to do a lot of the technical work necessary to even apply for grants. The County can offer help. The County can also help secure financing for the infrastructure upgrades necessary to build housing. We were the first jurisdiction in Iowa, and perhaps the country, to adopt a data center moratorium, which remains in place while we study our options. After we chased the Wolf CO2 pipeline out of Sutliff. We've protected our land and we've invested in water as well. A USGS survey we commissioned tells us we need to protect our aquifer. We've paid to continue the statewide surface water quality monitoring network. And my back door is about 500 feet from the Iowa River.

The News: What are your goals as Supervisor, if re-elected?

Green: To hold on through what's going to be a rough spell. We've had to spend down much of our reserves due to federal law and recent changes to state property tax law. 

The News: As Chair, which accomplishments are you most proud of?

Green: I have negotiated six land deals on behalf of the County, as Chair. I expect four of those will close, to the benefit of the taxpayer. Three of those are related to the jail bond and that's been another accomplishment. As expensive as it is, I think we've finally managed to put together a proposal three out of five supervisors can get behind.

The News: What are the top three issues facing Johnson County?

Green: Responsible growth, meeting the challenges of service delivery in a time of shrinking state and federal partnership, and resource conservation.

The News: What issues in Lone Tree, and eastern portions of the county, do you hope to help with?

Green: Lone Tree is the school. The school needs kids. Kids need houses. So, I'll do whatever I can to support housing development in Lone Tree and beyond. I've brought an economic development employee on to help with downtown revitalization and business recruitment, and those efforts need continued support. I've used my experience as mayor to suggest programs to help the smaller towns, and the most important experience I've got is to let them drive.

PHIL HEMINGWAY

Party affiliation: Republican

Residence: eastern rural Johnson County

Family: Wife, Anita; daughter, Monica; son-in-law, Kevin; grandson, Aiden

Current position: Lincoln Township Trustee

Past offices held: Iowa City Community School Board, 2015-2019; Lincoln Township Trustee, 2022-2026

Number of years as Republican: lifelong

Major accomplishments: Farmer, business owner, happily married husband of 34 years.

The News: What are your goals as Supervisor, if elected?

Hemingway: To make Johnson County affordable for everyone, and to provide much needed fiscal oversight. 

The News: Why are you running for election?

Hemingway: To break the stranglehold of one-party rule of 60-plus years in Johnson County and to provide much needed rural representation for our residents.

The News: What are the top three issues facing Johnson County?

Hemingway: Making sure we build a functional jail, making Johnson County affordable, and providing an environment for farmers and for businesses to function without being micromanaged.

The News: What issues in Lone Tree, and eastern portions of the county, do you hope to help with?

Hemingway: Making it more affordable and providing a representative who will look out for their interests as well as for the rest of the county. I am a lifelong resident, I have farmed in Johnson County, shown livestock at the county fair and understand rural life.

District 3

SUE DVORSKY

Party affiliation: Democrat

Residence: Coralville

Family: I have been married to former State Senator Bob Dvorsky for 38 years. We have two grown daughters, Ann and Caroline, and Caroline’s husband, Joe Bogan.

Current position: Currently retired; and an active volunteer in the Coralville Community Food Pantry.

Past offices held: Former Chair, Iowa Democrat Party, 2010-13

Number of years as Democrat: lifelong

Major accomplishments: From 1979 to 2010, I taught special education students in the Iowa City Community School District. After my retirement, I worked for three years for the United Way of Johnson and Washington Counties. I spent many of those years in Washington County, and became familiar with communities and organizations there.

The News: What are your goals as Supervisor, if elected?

Dvorsky: I want to focus on the budget, both the process and the numbers. I want to examine ways to better track the funds that are going outside of our actual departments. We have a fiscal responsibility to measure the effectiveness of residents’ tax dollars.

The News: Why are you running for election?

Dvorsky: When the new district maps were released in December, 2025, there was no incumbent Supervisor in District 3. No surprise there, because neither Coralville nor Tiffin has ever had a Supervisor who lived here. Forty years ago, Sharon Center was home to longtime Supervisor Don Sehr, but Johnson County has dramatically changed in that time. So, I stepped up because I think I can help in this transition period. 

The News: What are the top three issues facing Johnson County?

Dvorsky: We have to address the crisis with the current jail facility and the Sheriff’s office. The working conditions for more than 100 employees are unacceptable. The conditions for those incarcerated are deplorable. And the millions of dollars spent transporting and housing our inmates in other counties is fiscally irresponsible.

The impact of the changes in the property tax isn’t yet fully understood, but we do know it will result in revenue constraints, changes in secondary road funding, and other infrastructure pressures. We have to begin to account for those changes in this year’s budget planning.

And like other counties in Iowa, we need to begin serious discussions about the zoning, land use and environmental impacts around data centers. 

The News: What issues in SW Johnson County do you hope to help with?

Dvorsky: I believe that the new model of voting by districts gives us an opportunity to focus on residents in the rural townships, small communities, and mid-sized towns outside of Iowa City. This should make it easier for residents to have a point-of-contact to help answer questions and navigate county services. I will be inviting folks in Union, Washington and Sharon townships to regularly scheduled listening sessions, so I can learn what their concerns are. I’d like to highlight some of the county services and programs already in existence, and see what we can do to make those services more useful. And then I’d like to represent those folks at the table at the Supervisors meetings, to broaden our planning to make sure we represent all the residents of the county, edge-to-edge and top-to-bottom.

JENNIE WUNDERLICH

Party affiliation: Republican

Residence: rural Kalona

Family: Married to Ben for over 22 years; three great kids in middle and high school.

Current position: President and fourth-generation co-owner of PSC Distribution & Studio H2O Kitchen, Bath and Lighting Showroom in Iowa City.

Past offices held: No prior elected offices. Local community leadership includes Past Chair of Greater Iowa City Inc., Past President of the Iowa City Home Builders Association, and former Legislative Chair of HBA of Iowa.

Number of years as Republican: lifelong, since turning 18.

Major accomplishments: United States Military Academy at West Point graduate (B.S.) and MBA from UW–Eau Claire; U.S. Army combat veteran (Afghanistan and Iraq). I ran mortuary affairs operations, and my soldiers transported the first ballots around Afghanistan during an election there; fourth-generation leader of a 75-year-old family business; founded Trades Build America with my family to promote skilled trades careers; 4-H leader with a four-generation family connection to 4-H.

The News: What are your goals as Supervisor, if elected?

Wunderlich: My goals are to bring common-sense fiscal responsibility to the county and to restore trust through wise spending, respectful leadership and a focus on core services. The county has drawn down more than 58% of its reserves in two years while running multi-year deficits. I want honest budgeting and a hard look at spending priorities, including supervisor pay, which has risen 43.6% over nine years while the supervisors have simultaneously increased their personal staff from 3 to 12. I’ll push for regular public updates on big projects like the County Farm. I also want to see a new sheriff’s office and jail built, and built right, because the county spends hundreds of thousands of dollars each year housing and transporting inmates in other counties.

The News: Why are you running for election?

Wunderlich: I’m running because the Board needs a stronger rural voice and a fresh point of view. As a fourth-generation business owner, Army combat veteran and 4-H leader, I know what it means to meet a payroll, make hard decisions and serve others. My kids drive on our gravel roads every day, and that is a reality no one else on the Board lives. Rural residents across Johnson County rely on the county for secondary roads, the sheriff and other core services, and I want to represent them wherever they live. I’ll bring a positive, direct and respectful approach to the job.

The News: What are the top three issues facing Johnson County?

Wunderlich: Fiscal accountability. The county has spent down over 58% of its reserves in two years and is spending more than it brings in. Departments operating and purchasing in silos make it worse, and taxpayers pay for that inefficiency.

Getting back to core services. The Board has drifted away from the basics, like roads, bridges and public safety. We need to refocus on the things only the county government can do and do them well.

Public safety and the jail. The sheriff’s staff has long outgrown the current facility, and the county pays hundreds of thousands of dollars each year to house inmates elsewhere. I support the $94.5 million bond for a new jail and sheriff’s office, built with room to grow. 

The News: What issues in SW Johnson County do you hope to help with?

Wunderlich: I want to make sure rural and growing SW Johnson County is heard. Many of our roads need to be widened and improved, including 500th Street through Frytown, so they’re safe for families, school buses, farm equipment and local businesses. I’ll also work to ease the tax burden on rural homeowners and small businesses, make sure the district has real representation as Coralville and Tiffin grow, and support the small, locally owned businesses that give our communities their character.

District 4

V FIXMER-ORAIZ

Party affiliation: Democrat

Residence: Iowa City

Family: Natalie, spouse of 21 years; Emmons, 11; CT, 8.

Current position: Johnson County Supervisor.

Past offices held: Chair of Iowa City Housing and Development Commission; Vice Chair of Johnson County Affordable Housing Coalition.

Number of years as Democrat: 30

Major accomplishments: Moratorium on Data Centers; hiring of County Directors; working alongside manufactured housing residents to hold out-of-state park owners accountable; updating our county-wide Strategic Plan; undergoing a county-wide salary study and incorporating recommendations; supporting changes to the Future Land Use Map to encourage development near our urban areas and protecting farmland and sensitive areas.

The News: What are your goals as Supervisor, if re-elected?

Fixmer-Oraiz: I want to ensure that we are well-informed regarding the impacts of data centers and make the best decision for our county's natural resources and economic development potential.

I am committed to finding a pathway to zero homelessness in our county and have been part of several groups working on that endeavor. We need to improve our county jail, but this $94.5 million bond referendum is way too big and expensive for our county. I look forward to voting this jail down so we can right size our jail improvements. Our own consultant told us that if we replace the current facility it would be $15 million, and our jail population continues to decline as our general population increases. Half of the out-of-county jail transfers are not because of overcrowding, but simply for reasons pertaining to their case. Even the Sheriff has admitted that half of the cost is for his offices -- that's $50 million for offices, including a 5,000 square-foot gym facility for staff. It's not that I don't want our law enforcement staff to have a welcoming and functioning facility to work in every day, but this building is too large and expensive for our county. So, let's go back to the information we have gathered and look at other options that are more affordable.

The News: What are the top three issues facing Johnson County?

Fixmer-Oraiz: Data centers; loss of local control; housing that people can afford.

WANDA FOSTER

Party affiliation: Republican

Residence: Iowa City

Family: Married.

Professional experience: Associate Professor of Management, Concordia University; corporate marketing Baxter International, Sanofi, other medical diagnostic firms.

Accomplishments/background: Stephen Ministry leader; Cedar Rapids Community Orchestra, violin; Braver Angels, Eastern Iowa chapter, a group that encourages civil dialogue and common ground.

Number of years as Republican: lifelong

The News: What are your goals as Supervisor, if elected?

Foster: My goal is straightforward; to close the gap between what our community needs and what our county can provide through efficient county government, fiscal responsibility, and a commitment to public safety.

The News: What are the top three issues facing Johnson County?

Foster: Johnson County has an abundance of opportunities to pursue.  Supervisors are to represent the needs of our county according to the Iowa State Code.  Essential services; roads, bridges, infrastructure, must be met first.

Efficient Use of County Resources: County government should work smarter, not simply spend more. I support identifying inefficiencies, reducing waste and directing resources toward the services that matter most to our residents; Fiscal Responsibility: Taxpayers deserve transparency, accountability and value for every dollar they contribute. Before asking taxpayers for more, we should make sure we are making the best use of what we already have. I will advocate for responsible budgeting, disciplined spending and long-term financial planning while protecting essential services; Public Safety: Safe communities are strong communities. I support effective law enforcement, emergency services and responsible policies that help protect residents, families, and businesses throughout Johnson County.

As a practical voice for Johnson County, I believe good government is about solving problems, listening to residents, evaluating facts and being accountable for results.

District 5

MANDI REMINGTON

Party affiliation: Democrat

Residence: Iowa City

Family: three children, ages 10-23.

Current position: Johnson County Supervisor

Past offices held: Iowa City Community Police Review Board

Number of years as Democrat: 25 (since I started voting at age 18)

Major accomplishments: Community organizing: Founded Corridor Community Action Network (CCAN) in 2019 to connect people with local causes, organizations, and opportunities for civic engagement. Community public safety: Identified and helped secure grant funding for a county-city partnership to develop a field mediation response program, bringing 15 months of free expert technical assistance to support program development and implementation. Overdose prevention: Identified the need for GIS mapping of opioid overdoses and naloxone availability and initiated the project through my work on the Board of Supervisors. Johnson County Public Health and Medical Examiner staff collaborated to develop the map, helping identify gaps in access to lifesaving resources.

The News: What are your goals as Supervisor, if re-elected?

Remington: If re-elected, I want to strengthen community safety through thoughtful planning, investments in prevention, and access to services that help people before they reach a crisis. I will continue pushing for meaningful public input in major county decisions, transparent and responsible use of taxpayer dollars, and a county government that is accessible and responsive to the people it serves. I will also continue advancing housing policy and improving access to basic needs.

The News: What are the top three issues facing Johnson County?

Remington: Rising costs of housing and other basic needs: Housing, food and other essentials are increasingly difficult for many residents to afford. Supervisor Fixmer-Oraiz and I have been learning from elected officials in other communities that have moved forward with major housing projects and meeting with local housing partners to build a comprehensive understanding of our community's housing needs. This work can help inform local policies and investments that expand access to housing.

How we respond to public safety needs and prevent unnecessary involvement in the criminal justice system: Johnson County must balance immediate public safety needs with investments in prevention, crisis response and services that reduce unnecessary involvement in the criminal justice system. I participate in two national community responder cohorts to learn from approaches that have been successful in other communities. Locally, I helped secure grant funding and technical assistance for a field mediation program and identified the need to map overdose data alongside naloxone availability to reveal gaps in access to lifesaving resources.

Poor water quality and insufficient environmental protection: Iowa faces serious water quality challenges, and Johnson County needs to identify meaningful local steps we can take to address them. I recently convened regional partners working on water issues to develop a resolution and action plan that can move that work forward.

DONNA DANE

Party affiliation: Republican

Residence: Iowa City

Family: Single; resident of century-old family farm connected to dairy and agriculture.

Current position: retired.

Number of years as Republican: lifelong.

Major accomplishments: Former owner, Dane’s Dairy, 14 years, manager, 30 years; hosted AG Day at Fairgrounds, 7 years; Tour Guide for Dane’s Dairy Petting Zoo, 34 years; featured exotic and baby animals at Heritage Barn at the Johnson County 4-H Fair, 34 years; raised beef cattle, 10 years.

The News: What are your goals as Supervisor, if elected?

Dane: My goal is to seek the peace and prosperity of our community. As Supervisor, I will focus on common-sense government through financial accountability, supporting local business owners and defending property rights of farmers. I am for free market enterprise and capitalism, which will enable us to prosper. I will prioritize roads and infrastructure, bridges and emergency management systems with the budgeted taxpayer dollars. I support law enforcement.

The News: What are the top three issues facing Johnson County?

Dane: We need a new jail. The current jail is outdated, has structural problems, violated Iowa Code and was originally built to the capacity of 46 beds. Now, averaging 102 inmates a day, we doubled to over capacity with 92 bunk beds. Since 2001, we have spent over $16 million outsourcing inmates to other facilities. Staffing increased from 50 to 100 employees. The overload resulted in serious plumbing and sewer problems. The Johnson County Sheriff’s Office does everything it can to keep inmate population down. Over 73% of people who have been arrested were released within 24 hours in 2025. I support the $94.5 million bond referendum for the new jail. It will be cheaper now than it will ever be. The sale of the land for the current jail will alleviate some of that cost.

The Board of Supervisors increased their pay for the past nine years by 43.6% to the current salary of $102,000 per member who work only 20 hours a week. In addition, they increased their supervisory staff from 3 to 12 employees since 2020. Iowa Code allows the Board to cut Supervisor pay. I hope to reduce it down to $71,200, where it was in 2018 or even half the current pay. I am also opposed to the County Manager system. Department heads prefer presenting their case directly to the Supervisors. With County Managers costing approximately $250,000 per year, it’s an expense we don’t need.

Financial Accountability is one of my priorities. As Supervisor, I would mandate a budget book each summer at the end of the fiscal year and oversee the monthly and yearly audit and verify its transparency to the public. The Supervisors neglected to do a 2026 Budget Book in the summer of 2025 and it resulted in unnecessary confusion and inefficiency between department heads, leading to over-expenditures and deficit spending.

TREASURER

Scott Finlayson

Residence: Iowa City

Current position: Johnson County Treasurer

Political Party: Democrat

Running unopposed

RECORDER

Kim Painter

Residence: Iowa City

Current position: Johnson County Recorder

Political Party: Democrat

Running unopposed

ATTORNEY

Rachel Zimmermann Smith

Residence: Iowa City

Current position: Johnson County Attorney

Political Party: Democrat

Running unopposed