March 29, 2024

County Republicans name supervisor candidate

Union County Republican Party named Dr. Dennis Hopkins of Creston as a candidate for the board of supervisor seat to be vacated by Ron Riley.

Hopkins, 57, will face independent candidate Roger Vicker Nov. 8. Although Vicker petitioned to become an independent candidate earlier this year, political parties have until Aug. 31 to appoint a candidate.

Riley announced the first of the year he will not be running for another term as his term expires Dec. 31.

“I’ve thought about it over the years,” Hopkins said about getting involved in county operations. “But my kids were young and involved. This year, my youngest daughter will be a senior in high school.” Hopkins said he was approached by others asking his interest in running.

“I have always told them I’m always interested, I just wanted to wait.” Hopkins said he respects the traditional process of becoming a candidate before the Primary election but was flattered to be asked to be appointed as candidate by Union County Republicans. Party members met Tuesday.

Hopkins explained what would happen should he be elected in November as the term won’t begin until Jan. 1.

“That would be a short cross-over period,” he said explaining how his daughter would only have a little more than five months left of school.

Hopkins said he has talked with others about how he could balance being a supervisor and running his own chiropractic clinic at the same time.

“I do have a business that has been successful and I am happy. If I suffer a little bit, I guess that is what will happen,” he said. “People told me busy people stay busy.”

He said he is interested to see how the supervisors agree to tax the wind turbines and then use that income. In recent weeks the board of supervisors have begun research how to tax the 36 turbines in the northwest corner of Union County. The county has options to distribute the tax revenue with other taxing entities where the turbines are located.

“I’m probably like others. I like to see the roads built up and taxes kept down,” he said. “I just want to help manage the county well. I plan on being here for a while.”

He has been in Creston for 29 years. He is from Marionville, Missouri, south of Springfield. He and wife Terri are owners of Creston Chiropractic and have three daughters.

John Van Nostrand

JOHN VAN NOSTRAND

An Iowa native, John's newspaper career has mostly been in small-town weeklies from the Rocky Mountains to the Mississippi River. He first stint in Creston was from 2002 to 2005.