Newton business owner announces campaign for Jasper County supervisor

Julia Prendergast, a downtown Newton business owner and local developer, announced March 12 she will be campaigning for a seat on the Jasper County Board of Supervisors this upcoming election, following a successful primary that will be held in June.

The owner of Fine Things Reclaimed will be running as a Republican for a board that is currently made up entirely of Republican men: Denny Carpenter, Doug Cupples and Brandon Talsma. The terms of Talsma and Carpenter are to expire this year, but both supervisors want to seek another term.

Prendergast wants to focus on growth, which includes taking the necessary steps to make Jasper County a destination for people to live in. She anticipates more people from Altoona and Bondurant over in Polk County will want to move to Jasper County in the coming years. Let’s be ready for them, she said.

“I feel like we need to have a little more vision and leave Jasper County in really great shape for the next generation,” Prendergast said. “I think there’s a lot of things we can do to help bring businesses here, to get more housing, to preserve some of the parks and things like that.”

As a local business owner, Prendergast knows the value of attracting out-of-county visitors to her retail space and the downtown area. By focusing on attracting more businesses to the county, she said it will create more tax base and give residents more opportunities and options.

Born and raised in Jasper County, Prendergast currently lives in the unincorporated territory. Her “heart and soul is definitely here” in the county. Prendergast is at the point in her life where she feels it is time to give back, believing she can give “some real value” to the county.

“I think the Jasper County Board (of Supervisors) do an OK job. I just think there are some things that are missing that we can do even better. We can collaborate better. A lot of people that are on the board now just don’t have that background,” Prendergast said. “I could bring that background.”

Jasper County could also do a better job at collaborating with its small towns and cities, Prendergast added. She also suggested the county’s communication could also use some work. Leaders could better explain their motivations and reasons behind each decision, citing the upcoming administration building as example.

Prendergast said the county is good at maintaining its assets, but what she does not see is the government’s vision for the region. For instance, she remembers participating in the country’s comprehensive plan process a few years ago. The result was a 170-page document, but she questioned where it comes into play.

“It’s a great plan. How are we making that plan happen? They had goals there. That’s awesome, but what are we doing to make that plan work?” she said.

There are lots of things the county has done, Prendergast said, but what is missing “is that next step.” Where’s our vision? What’s next? What’s your plan? These are the questions Prendergast has. And it’s the approach she hopes to get a chance to implement.

“I’m not running against anybody. I’m running because I think I can add real value. That truly is the reason that I’m running. There’s no hidden message there or hidden secret there,” she said. “I just think I can help and do a really good job for them.”

Contact Christopher Braunschweig at 641-792-3121 ext. 6560 or cbraunschweig@newtondailynews.com