WATERLOO (KWWL) -
A voter forum in Waterloo Thursday evening gave people the chance people to hear from seven candidates vying to help lead Black Hawk County. The League of Women Voters sponsored the forum between Black Hawk County Sheriff, Supervisor, and Auditor candidates.
Current Board of Supervisors, John Miller, Tom Little, and Scott Jordan agreed the county is on the right track. They said they want to stick around to see their plan through.
"The county is in good shape. The last six years we've done well and managed will. Our reserves are good, our health insurance is good," said Miller.
"We've got a good group of individuals up there that work professionally. I just think we've got better things to do in Black Hawk County," said Little.
Newcomers Leah Morrison and Linda Laylin also attended the forum. Morrison said she not only hopes to add diversity to the board, she plans to bring greater fiscal responsibility to its decisions.
"We have opportunities for efficiencies. We have opportunities for a new way of thinking and adding some diversity to the group might give a fresh new perspective," said Morrison.
Senator Jeff Danielson spoke on current Sheriff Tony Thompson's behalf. Thompson's father passed away Tuesday, and the Sheriff was with family Thursday night.
"He's always been responsive to the public. He's one of the few elected officials that holds regular town hall meetings," said Danielson.
Thompson's opponent, Republican Bill Herkelman plans to reduce the budget and improve office moral.
"With the moral being so low, the retention... we have people looking outside to other agencies, we're losing staffing, we have sick time abuse," said Herkelman.
County Auditor Grant Veeder is running unopposed this year. Veeder did take a few minutes during the forum to say he does not support a plan to require state-issued ID's at the polls.
