Meet the candidates running for Polk County supervisors District 2 in Urbandale, Johnston

Republican Jill Altringer and Democrat John Forbes are vying for a seat on the Polk County Board of Supervisors representing District 2 to replace outgoing supervisor Robert Brownell.

Altringer beat out her Republican opponent Bob Start in the June primary, earning 71% of the votes. She now faces Forbes, a current representative on the Iowa State Legislature, who ran uncontested in the primaries.

District 2 includes Urbandale, Johnston, Grimes, Polk City, Alleman, Sheldahl, Elkhart, Bondurant, Mitchellville and unincorporated portions of Polk County.

One of the candidates will replace six-term supervisor Brownell who announced his retirement in March 2023 following his wife's diagnosis with Alzheimer’s disease.

To help voters, the Des Moines Register sent questions to all federal, Des Moines area legislative and local candidates running for political office this year. Their answers have been lightly edited for length and clarity.

The general election is scheduled for Nov. 5.

Learn More: Your Iowa Voter Guide 2024

Who is Jill Altringer?

Age: 49

Party: Republican

Grew up: Storm Lake

Current town of residence: Grimes since 2001

Education: Bachelor's in biology/chemistry from the University of Iowa; Juris Doctor from the University of Iowa College of Law; passed the Iowa bar in 2001 and the federal patent bar in 2002

Occupation: Attorney and small business owner

Political experience and civic activities: Grimes City Council, 2006-2021; Polk County Conservation Board, 2017-2024, chair 2023/24; Grimes Leadership Academy Board 2023-2024; middle school mock trial coach 2016-2024; Metro Advisory Council (MAC) and MAC executive committee; economic development committee; water/wastewater committee; Library Board; Park and Recreation Board; Fire Department Board; Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO); Bravo; Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority (DART) and DART strategic planning committee; Iowa Women in Agriculture Board; Grimes Kiwanis Board; 2011 “Forty Under 40” award, Des Moines Business Record

Previous coverage Meet the candidates for Polk County Board of Supervisors District 2 in Urbandale, Johnston

Who Is John Forbes?

Age: 67

Party: Democrat

Grew up: Eagle Grove

Current town of residence: Urbandale

Education: Bachelor's of pharmacy, Drake University, 1980

Occupation: Pharmacist

Political experience and civic activities: Iowa State representative 2013-present, Urbandale City Council 2005-2012, Urbandale Library Foundation Board member 1995-present, past president Urbandale Chamber of Commerce, Central Iowa Honor Flight coordinator 2009-2024, past president of Polk County and Iowa Pharmacy Associations.

What is the most important issue facing Polk County and how would you address it in office?

Altringer: Polk County residents are facing economic uncertainty. As supervisor, I will safeguard Polk County taxpayers through careful budget oversight, find ways to cut costs and waste while maintaining crucial services, and ensuring responsible spending. In doing this, I commit to openly discussing financial issues, listening to residents, and always putting taxpayers first. My ultimate goal is to cut the property tax levy and focus on accountability and transparency to ensure Polk County families keep more of their hard-earned money.

Forbes: I would like to make sure the county continues to take care of our most vulnerable residents, ensuring that we continue to address mental health concerns, homelessness and food insecurity. Instead of taking individuals to jail for a mental health crisis, we should continue to focus on programs that will direct help for these people and provide needed services. Polk County will be opening a new center this fall to address mental health and substance abuse issues, and I want to ensure success of the program to reduce admissions to Broadlawns Hospital.

What new programs or initiatives would you advocate for under your leadership?

Altringer: One initiative I will advocate for is transforming senior meal sites into local hubs for mobile health and legal services. This will involve collaboration with health care and legal experts at the established sites in order to enhance accessibility to seniors. Offering health check-ups, screenings, and telemedicine access, would improve health care accessibility for our seniors. Adding legal clinics for estate planning and benefits advice would address simple legal concerns. Collaborating with community groups and using technology for information sharing would improve services to meet the needs of our seniors while also boosting the well-being of the community.

Forbes: I want to make sure Polk County is a leader in renewable energy and ensuring clean water for our residents. We must move away from our reliance on fossil fuels and encourage use of alternative energy sources. I will work to explore expansion of wind and solar programs for Polk County residents and address the need to reduce and eliminate nitrates and pesticides in our drinking water. We should also foster economic development in the county to expand our tax base and provide high quality jobs.

How would you manage rising personal costs for taxpayers while maintaining a county budget that provides essential services to residents?

Altringer: Managing rising costs while maintaining essential services requires prioritizing community needs, making operations more efficient, and identifying cost savings through expansion of shared regional services and better utilizing technology. My priority is to focus on cutting waste from the budget while exploring alternative revenue sources such as public-private partnerships or grants to diversify funding streams. Furthermore, open communication is key to transparent budget discussions and will lead to better understanding and support from residents; this coupled with a regular review of the budget priorities and expenses helps ensure the county is responsive to the community’s changing needs and economic conditions.

Forbes: I have voted in the Iowa Legislature to reduce property taxes for all Iowans, and I will continue to address property tax increases at the county level. I want to keep property taxes in check and not price hard working residents and senior citizens out of their homes. The bonds to pay off Wells Fargo Arena, built over 20 years ago, will expire in 2025, which will free up $15 million to $20 million that can be directed to reduce property taxes. We need to make sure we continue to provide superior services such as public safety, public health and maintaining our county roads and facilities for our citizens.

What is your approach to balancing the needs and interests of residents in growing cities and in small towns?

Altringer: Balancing urban and rural needs is complicated and requires a multifaceted approach. We must prioritize needs, allocate resources, develop infrastructure, and provide services equitably to communities throughout the county. This can be done through collaborative planning with urban and rural stakeholders to ensure decisions consider diverse perspectives and needs. Innovative policies tailored to each area's challenges should be evaluated while promoting overall growth to the community and investing in infrastructure that connects urban and rural areas and fosters economic opportunities and social cohesion. With a comprehensive approach, we can effectively manage growth, reduce disparities, and cultivate thriving communities across diverse landscapes.

Forbes: I grew up in a small town in north central Iowa and I understand the needs for both small towns and growing cities. A large part of District 2 is located in rural areas of our county. My work in the Iowa Legislature over the past 12 years demonstrates my commitment to rural Iowa and their needs. I have been endorsed by Iowa Farm Bureau numerous times for my commitment to rural Iowa. It is critical to make sure our smaller communities have up-to-date water treatment facilities, adequate power needs and a clean source of drinking water, which is vital for the continued growth of these smaller but growing communities.

What steps would you take to address rising homelessness in Polk County?

Altringer: To address rising homelessness in Polk County, as supervisor I will work to increase housing opportunities, such as affordable housing, supportive housing, and family shelters. I will expand partnerships with mental health and addiction services and enhance job training programs. Additionally, I will create a task force to focus on balancing business and social concerns. The task force will help bring together diverse stakeholders, including businesses, social services, and community leaders. This collaboration will ensure a comprehensive approach that considers economic impacts while prioritizing human dignity and support for those in need.

Forbes: We need to address homelessness in the county and facilitate in helping find affordable housing for individuals in need. We should explore a public-private solution to this problem and ensure these individuals have a safe environment to live in. Transportation is many times a barrier for these individuals to be able to enter the workforce. We should explore programs that will help facilitate individuals, so they are able to be self-sustaining. Food insecurity is a countywide problem, and we should work with local food banks to ensure that no person or child goes hungry in our county.

Virginia Barreda is the Des Moines city government reporter for the Register. She can be reached at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter at @vbarreda2.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: 2 candidates running for Polk County Board of Supervisors District 2