Primary Election Q&As: Julia Prendergast, Republican

Name: Julia Prendergast

City: Rural Jasper County

Occupation: Business owner, sales manager for a polyurethane company, economic developer and entrepreneur

Education: Bachelor in marketing and business

1. Introduce/Reintroduce yourself to voters and explain why you want to be on the Jasper County Board of Supervisors.

I am Julia Prendergast, a 3rd generation resident of Jasper County. I live, work and breathe Central Iowa. Not only did I raise two daughters and three sons in Jasper County, but I chose to stay in this area and invest in residential and commercial real estate. My goal is to make Jasper County THE place to raise a family. My skills as a rural resident, business owner, communicator and economic developer will be critical as we prepare for a decade of changes for farmers, industries, entrepreneurs and rural residents.

2. Does the county communicate well with citizens? Are there ways the county can improve its communication or transparency? What do you propose?

I have seen the county communicate with citizens - primarily at the weekly supervisors’ meetings. Recently the county hired a social media coordinator, and I would like to expand that and other outreach techniques. A second goal of mine is to communicate thoroughly and listen to all residents for the topics that matter most to them.

This question is relevant to communications between county supervisors and town leaders too. We tend to think that the county supervisors set goals, budgets and regulation for rural residents, but this includes those who live within the boundaries of our towns too. I’ve spent the last six weeks meeting face to face with mayors, council members and municipal staff in towns within Jasper County to better understand what the residents feel are priorities.

3. What role does economic development play in Jasper County? How do you think the county is doing in that regard? What are ways you would improve it?

Economic development is critical to rural area decision makers. You recognize the adage “it takes a village to raise a child.” It takes a number of villages to grow a county. Every town in Jasper County has successes – things that can show off, be proud of - now we just need to capitalize on those gems, keep the momentum going and focus on the next facility expansion, housing development or business venue. The work is never done; it’s exhausting work. That’s my world as an entrepreneur… I am ready to apply my energy and connections to get investors in Jasper County.

4. How do you think the county is progressing in the secondary roads department? Do you believe gravel roads and bridge replacements are being properly addressed?

Secondary roads are one of the primary responsibilities of the supervisors. I have gotten quite the earful during my personal visits to residents whose livelihoods depend upon quality gravel roads. It seems we have some ground to make up here. Upon election I will work to find more funding for these roads. Our rural neighbors need our help.

5. What do you feel the role of public health is in providing health care to the community? How do you propose to meet the essential health care needs for the underserved populations?

Healthcare is one of the top discussion points in any election. With skyrocketing inflation and an aging rural population, it is critical that we provide services to the underserved. As is the case with public education, the detriment to our county is tenfold if we do not allocate reasonable funding and attention to healthcare.

6. Rank what you think Jasper County’s top priorities should be. Explain your reasoning.

One of my campaign strategies has been to travel around Jasper County to meet as many folks as possible. During these conversations, I have discovered that the priorities of Jasper County citizens are as varied as one might expect.

Below are only few of my findings:

Fiscal responsibility - The current board has done a good job of evaluating expenses, but are they planning for future economic pressures? Unfortunately, improvements to secondary roads are costly, and the county can’t afford to let years go by without upkeep. With the population of our county stagnating and border counties exploding, Jasper County must prioritize growing our tax base of residents and industry.

Economic development & tourism - We have to be proactive in connecting with investors and expanding our networks beyond who we think will build in Jasper County. Rural counties have advantages over metro areas (e.g., low/no crime, low cost of living, trails and nature conservancies). Let’s capitalize on these amazing assets Jasper County offers families, retirees, and everyone in between.

Expand communication with town leaders - Are we duplicating expenditures? Are we creating gaps? What can we accomplish together?

As a candidate for Jasper County Supervisor, I look forward to the future of Jasper County being the place for new generations to live, work and play.