Essential Estrogen

With the filing periods for Linn County supervisor, sheriff or auditor looming just around the corner, several residents have already taken steps to request candidate packets from the Linn County Auditor's office.

March 3 is the first day for partisan candidates in the above races to file nomination papers for the offices listed above. Nomination papers must be received by the Linn County Auditor's office by 5 p.m. on March 26.

Although a final list will not be available until the final day, several individuals have requested candidate packets for the Linn County Supervisor's race from the auditor's office:

* = incumbent

Observing the supervisor's race as it shapes up is quickly becoming a favorite past-time of county residents. The Board of Supervisors had long been limited to three elected officials. Recently, county residents voted to expand the board to five members. A committee was named to map out the new districts -- a task that did not come without pain and complaint from nearly everyone involved.

Mary Lundby, who has served for decades as an Iowa Senator, made public early on that she will leave the legislature to pursue a seat on the board. Most consider her a very safe bet.

Dave Machecek mounted an unsuccessful campaign for the board of supervisors previously, and is credited with many of the signatures that called for the referendum that increased the board seats.

The latest controversy in relation to the upcoming campaigns came earlier this month during a meeting of the Linn County Compensation Board. The group met to determine the future salaries of the supervisors (as well as other county elected officials) and recommended a 6 percent raise. That recommendation has been given to the Board of Supervisors for further discussion, although a final decision is not expected until February.

While 6 percent doesn't seem like an outrageous request, it appears Linn County residents have finally come to the realization that they will soon be paying five supervisors instead of three -- currently at a tune of roughly $82,500 each per year.

Linn County Auditor Joel Miller blogged yesterday about the meeting as well as the information he provided.

In addition to the supervisor race, three men have publicly stated their intentions to seek the office of Linn County Sheriff (an office to be vacated by current Sheriff Don Zeller): Democrat Brian Gardner, Democrat Bill Elam and Republican David Zahn. There's no word yet on who might be entering the Auditor's race.

While there is plenty to be said about what's currently happening in Linn County, I'd like readers to please have a good look at the candidates who have announced their intentions or picked up paperwork from Miller's office. While I'm extremely pleased to see Langston, Lundby, Barron and Arenas on the list, I'm also struck that there aren't more women stepping up to the plate. If you are a female resident of Linn County and are interested in running for office, drop me a line and I promise to allow picking of my brain and to put you in touch with those individuals who can provide you even more assistance.