ncumbents running unopposed in Adair County

The general election will occur in about two weeks, and in Adair County, all positions up for reelection are unopposed for the incumbents.

It’s expected Adair County will have about a 70 percent voter turnout for the general election Nov. 8, which is not unusual for the type of election.

There are three Adair County Board of Supervisors positions open for the incumbents Matt Wedemeyer, David L. Homan and John A. Twombly. Incumbent Mindy Schaefer is running for auditor and incumbent Jeffrey L. Vandewater is running for sheriff.

County Board of Supervisors

Matt Wedemeyer

Age: 31

Of: Casey

Party: Republican

Work history: Wedemeyer has been a real estate broker for 13 years, farmer for about 12 years and has been an Adair County supervisor from 2009 to present.

Why do you want to remain a supervisor? "In the last eight years that I've been there, we've made a lot of improvements. Whether it's the roads, the infrastructure, just county-wide, we've made a lot of improvements and I want to continue to see it as it goes forward."

What do you think you bring to the position that someone else doesn't? "I think being younger has helped. It gives a new perspective to things. When I got on, I think I was probably 45 years younger than the next guy. I think it brings a whole new dynamic to it, just being younger, as far as having a younger viewpoint on things. ... With different business experiences, I'm not just a farmer, I've been involved in all kinds of things. Together, I think it brings a needed advantage to the county."

David L. Homan

Age: 70

Of: Fontanelle

Party: Republican

Work history: Homan worked for six and a half years for the state of Iowa before beginning a 31-year stint as technician in the Adair County Engineer's Office under the county engineer. He retired in 2009 before being elected to the Adair County Board of Supervisors from 2009 to present.

Why do you want to remain a supervisor? "I think that the current Board of Supervisors that we have is an excellent board and it seems like we work well together. I've seen a lot of progress and, prior to the 31 years that I worked for the county, I could see there were needs for a lot of improvement. And, I think I've seen some of the best years the county's had since I've been on the supervisors. That's not to be bragging, but I think it's made quite a difference."

What do you think you bring to the position that someone else doesn't? "I think I bring experience working with the secondary roads in the engineer department and working in the field. I worked as construction inspector and know the roads pretty well and know the bridges and their shape. The engineering background gives me a little added advantage for running for supervisor. ... I think the county's in good shape and I think we're going to continue being in good shape."

John A. Twombly

Age: 69

Of: Greenfield

Party: Republican

Work history: Twombly worked as station manager at the United States Postal Service in Kansas before becoming a postmaster in Kansas and Nebraska. He retired from the military and civil service in 1992, and the next year, he moved back to Greenfield. Twombly was a Greenfield City Council member from 1995 to 1999. He has been a supervisor from 2009 to present.

Why do you want to remain a supervisor? "There's a few reasons why I ran in the beginning and I'm still working on those. The main issues are roads and bridges. Just like all other counties in Iowa, we're underfunded and undermanned. We're using money to repair roads and bridges, and I'd like to see that continue. ... The other board members are interested in that, also. ... I think we all feel in the rural economy, we need the infrastructure. That's our main economy in Adair County, the farmers, and we need the roads and bridges to transport the crops."

What do you think you bring to the position that someone else doesn't? "I think I've had a well-rounded experience. I've had other experience at other levels of the government. I've worked with unions in the past, so I have experience with unions. We have unions at the sheriff's department and secondary roads. I have managerial experience, so I know how to manage and how they should treat their people."

County Auditor

Mindy Schaefer

Age: 42

Of: Greenfield

Work history: Schaefer worked as accounts payable position at Computer Tree in Creston until 2001. From 2001 to 2008, she was the Union County elections deputy at Union County Courthouse and then became Adair County auditor from 2008 to present.

Why do you want to remain auditor? "I love my job. I love helping the people. Getting that person that's voted for the first time, when they come to register when they're 18, I love that. I like making sure the county runs smoothly on the financial side of it. I just love my job."

What do you think you can bring to the position that someone else doesn't? "I bring excellent customer service. I have 15 years of experience with county government, and the auditor's office in particular, so I'm well rounded with what I can do in the office. Our office wears a lot of hats. We are human resources. We are accounts payable. We are elections. ... And, I'm well rounded enough to be able to do all of that."

County Sheriff

Jeffrey L. Vandewater

Age: 43

Of: Rural Adair County

Work history: Vandewater worked an internship with Adair County Sheriff's Office while in college before becoming part of the Nebraska State Patrol in 1996 in North Platte, Nebraska. The next year, he joined the Adair County Sheriff's Office. He has been sheriff since 2014. Vandewater is also a firearms, defensive tactics and pepper-spray instructor.

Why do you want to remain sheriff? "I've accomplished a few of my goals in my two years since becoming sheriff. I personally conduct yearly compliance checks on our registered sex offenders in the county, I have made a commitment to courthouse security and personally sit in on court service days when the district court judges are present at the courthouse. ... One of my priorities was to better or further my relationship with the media and news outlets. I have tried hard to do that and I think I have. During my first two fiscal budget years, I returned to the (Adair County) Board of Supervisors or the county general fund just over $232,000. That is money that I could have used, but did not want to waste or spend foolishly. ... I wish to continue as sheriff for many reasons. First, it's all about serving the people. We provide a service to the people and I like that. I like the fact that we are a smaller county population-wise and have the opportunity to make lasting relationships within the community. This applies to the citizens as well as other organizations."

What do you think you can bring to the position that someone else doesn't? "I think I've built and kept those relationships over the years. Adair County is a great place to be sheriff. With all the craziness in law enforcement across the country now, I'd rather be in no other place than Adair County. The vast majority of the public, here anyway, as opposed to any large metropolitan area, are still in support of law enforcement. They want us to out doing our job and we appreciate their support. ... I think we have a long history of fine, well-respected sheriffs in Adair County, going back to the early 1950s. ... I figure those guys before me had it rough as well, that I must maintain that tradition and keep our office going in the right direction. Make no mistake, all of my employees keep this boat, which is the Adair County Sheriff's Office, going. I just try to steer us in the right direction and make slight course adjustments as necessary."