This is Election Day across Iowa and the rest of the Country. In southwest Iowa, there are some contested local races, but a majority of the focus will of course, be on the Presidential and Congressional elections. The polls are open from 7-a.m. until 9-p.m. The results will be broadcast live on KJAN and posted on the web on KJAN when the final, unofficial tallies are released. All votes will remain unofficial until canvassed in each county.

In Cass County, three Republicans running for re-election to the Board of Supervisors (Duane McFadden, Chuck Rieken and Frank Waters) are unopposed. Republicans Darby McLaren (Sheriff) and Auditor Dale Sunderman, are also unopposed. Voters in the Benton, Edna, Union and Victoria Townships in Cass County, will have a public measure to vote on. If approved, the measure would allow the Board of Supervisors to appoint township trustees and clerks as the terms of incumbent township officers expire. In addition, four people: Chase Wheatley, Curt Behrends, Clarke Gerlock and Norbert Ray Wilson, are running for three seats on the Soil and Water Conservation District Board.

In Adams County, Democrat Merlin Dixson and Republican Jerry Peckham are vying for a seat on the Board of Supervisors in District 2, while three people are in the running for the County Auditor’s job, including: Democrat Kevin Wynn, Republican Becky Bissell, and Kerry Mullen, who was nominated by petition.

In Adair County, four people are looking to fill three seats on the County Agricultural Extension Council, including Jessica Christensen, Karen Schulties, Matt Mensing, and Tiffany Johnson. Ray Sorensen the 2^nd is unopposed in his bid to fill a vacant seat on the Greenfield City Council.

In Audubon County, four men are running for two open seats on the Board of Supervisors. They include Republicans Duane Deist and Todd Nelson, and Democrats Jerry Carter and Kent Grabill. In addition, Republican incumbent Sheriff Todd Johnson faces a challenge from Democrat Blake Asberry. Audubon County Auditor Lisa Frederiksen is unopposed, as is Debbie Campbell, who is running Treasurer, to fill a vacancy term that will expire on Dec. 31^st, 2014.

In Guthrie County, there are two contested county races on the ballot, both for supervisor. In the north end of Guthrie County, District 1 incumbent Jerry Caraher (D) is challenged by James Carroll (R). In the southeast corner of the county in District 5, challenger David Guisinger (D) hopes to unseat incumbent Mike Dickson (R). Running unopposed in other county races are two incumbents: Auditor Jerri Christman (R) and Sheriff Marty Arganbright (D). Due to redistricting, Guthrie County residents are no longer represented by long time Congressman Steve King (R), who is running against Christie Vilsack (D) for the newly created District 4 congressional seat. Instead, voters will choose between two incumbent congressmen for the newly created District 3 seat: Tom Latham (R) and Leonard Boswell (D).

Voters in Montgomery County will decide who will represent them in the U-S Senate and in Federal Office, but there aren’t any local contests of note, except to say six people are running for five spots on the County Agricultural Extension Council. Hoping to fill the four-year terms, are Karen Klocke, Michael J. Olson, Sabrina Johnson, Carroll Freeman, Timothy L. Kammerer, and William Drey.

In Pottawattamie County, three people are running for two seats on the Board of Supervisors: Republicans Lynn Grobe and Melvyn Houser, and Brian Lund, who was nominated by petition (NBP). Republican Lea Voss and Democrat Paula Danker are running to fill a vacancy position for County Treasurer. Sheriff Jeff Danker, who won the June Primary, is unopposed this time around, as is Auditor Marilyn Jo Drake.  Lowell Forristall, Bob Zimmerman, and J. Bernie Bolton, are in running for the non-partisan East Pott Soil and Water Conservation District, while Steven Kock, Chris Conover, Christine Matthies and Sandy Butcher are hoping to fill seats on the East Pott. Ag Extension Council. And, in Walnut, Trace Frahm is unopposed in seeking a vacancy seat on the Walnut City Council.

In Shelby County, Democrats Jerry Henscheid and LaVon Christensen, along with Republicans Charles Parkhurst and Steve Kenkel, are vying for two seats on the County Board of Supervisors. In addition to choosing those running for Federal Office, the voters in Shelby County will determine who will serve them as State Representative in District 18, Democrat Kasey Friedrichsen, or Republican Jason Schultz, and District 4 Representative, Democrat Christie Vilsack or Republican Steve King. Martin James Monroe was Nominated By Petition. His name will also appear on the ballot in Shelby County.

State officials have partnered with a Kansas City-based non-profit group to create www.IASourceLink.com, a sort of “one stop shop” for people who own a small business, or want to start one. Kevin Lentz of West Des Moines says he could have used this kind of a website 14 years ago when he started his small business. “There’s over 300 tax-supported agencies right now all around our state that are all prepared and willing to provide resource to start-ups and existing business like myself,” Lentz says. “The challenge is navigating that entire network.”

Lentz is the chair of a small business advisory committee that’s been working with officials in the Iowa Economic Development Authority. “Our committee made sure that we were not just re-inventing another tool and add more chaos to what was already out there,” Lentz says. The new website is one of 20 created in partnership with Kansas City-based U.S. SourceLink. Iowa’s version — www.IASourceLink.com — is up and running today. The website has an “Iowa Business Concierge” tab, as well as a “Resource Navigator” to link business owners and entrepreneurs with local banks, accountants and government agencies that provide assistance.

“I think if you look through and read about the mortality rate of small businesses that start up, about one in two fail,” Lentz says. “So really, that’s been our overriding goal is not only to improve the number of start-ups, but really improve the success rate for businesses.” According to the governor’s office, 51 percent of private sector jobs in Iowa are in small businesses.

(Radio Iowa)

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