County supervisor running for re-election is in the hospital

Jasper County Supervisor Denny Carpenter, who is running for re-election this November, is in the hospital and is waiting to find out whether he will be accepted into a local health care facility for a short period of time to get his strength and energy back. The 82-year-old official is pursuing his fifth term on the board.

Newton News spoke with Carpenter and Iowa Rep. Jon Dunwell in person at MercyOne Newton Medical Center on Oct. 18 about the health status of the county supervisor. Doctors gave Carpenter a thorough examination and found he was not moving enough nor drinking enough fluids or eating enough food.

“We’re waiting right now to hear from the nurses staff, they will meet with Newton Village,” Dunwell said. “They have to have a room available for him. It’s short-term care and they have to get the insurance company to approve him to go there to get some skilled nursing care and get his strength back.”

In the past, Carpenter had prostate cancer and a few spots on his liver and bones. Dunwell said none of that has progressed. Carpenter mentioned his kidneys are “working fine,” and he continues to use a BEMER (Bio-Electro-Magnetic-Energy-Regulation) to improve blood flow and circulation.

Carpenter fell in his home late last week and needed help getting up. He called Jasper County Republican Party Chair Thad Nearmyer for help. Nearmyer confirmed he and his wife helped him up. Carpenter said he was eventually able to use a walker to get back to his chair.

“Medically, I’m in good shape,” Carpenter said inside his hospital room. “…I’ve just hit a little road bump and we’re going to get it fixed, and I’m going to start eating better. I may have to go to some restaurant to get my meals or something to get that food right. I got dehydrated and now I’m OK.”

Despite the stay in the hospital, Carpenter said he still intends to follow through with the election. When he announced his re-election, Carpenter stated it was God’s will he seek a fifth term. He maintains “God is in charge of everything” and that he is here to do whatever God wants him to do.

Carpenter does not foresee his health conditions getting in the way of the race or his duties as an incumbent supervisor. At the Oct. 18 meeting, Carpenter was not present in the supervisors chambers but he was connected to the meeting via Zoom and was able to vote and give input on certain agenda items.

Nearmyer still fully supports Carpenter and his run for county supervisor, noting he has proven he can do the job even remotely via Zoom.

“I’m going to get better. Better and better. Day by day, in every way, I’m going to get better and better,” Carpenter said. “We have certain things in life we don’t plan on. And I didn’t plan on this. I’m going to deal with it and get back on the road. That’s what I’m gonna do.”

During his stay at MercyOne Newton Medical Center, Carpenter was very complimentary of the staff. He noted that representatives of the hospital recently asked supervisors for $2 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds to go towards a new emergency room. Carpenter said he “would give them more.”

“Everyone here has just been fantastic,” he said. “The emergency room is like a shoebox. But they are fantastic here. The people are super. This is a super facility. And I would give them more. I would. This is just a temporary thing to slow me down. It’s not life-threatening and I will be back on the road.”