Elect Rachel Vagts

Rachel Vagts running for county supervisor

By Sarah Strandberg (Originally published by Decorah Newspapers) Decorah City Council member Rachel Vagts (D) has announced her candidacy for the District 2 seat on the Winneshiek County Board of Supervisors. Due to redistricting following the 2010 census, the terms of all five supervisors expire at the end of the year. Four of the supervisors, Les Askelson (R), John Logsdon (R), Bill Ibanez (D) and Lonnie Pierce (R), plan to seek re-election. Supervisor Steve Bouska (R) is not running. He lives in the new District 4 where Logsdon also lives. Former Supervisor Gordon Hunter (R) of rural Decorah announced last month he would oppose Pierce for the new District 5 seat. Since Hunter and Pierce are both Republicans, they will face off in the Tuesday, June 5, primary election. The general election is Tuesday, Nov. 6. New District 2 None of the current supervisors lives in the newly created District 2, which consists of part of Decorah and Decorah Township. Vagts said she would run for the seat because she is ready for a new challenge. "I've really enjoyed the work I've done on the City Council. This is a growth opportunity for me. I see the county poised to do some really exciting things. There are so many opportunities for Winneshiek County to continue to grow and be a progressive place to work and live," Vagts said. If elected, Vagts said she would be able to continue her work as an archivist at Luther College and remain part of the college community. The last woman to serve on the Board was Naomi Craft, who was elected in 1986 and served through 1992. "I think it's important for us to have women in elected roles. There are now three women on the City Council, and it's time to think about bringing gender balance to the Board of Supervisors," Vagts said. Experience The candidate said her experience serving the city would be beneficial to her as a county supervisor. "The big thing I have learned being on the City Council is when you have a group from a variety of backgrounds and perspectives, how important it is to talk through the decisions we are making. The governmental model is to vote and the majority rules. We make better decisions when we take time to work to come to consensus and compromise with each other," Vagts said. She added she considers herself a good listener and "pretty fair- minded." "I think I have skills I can bring to the supervisors to strengthen their work in the county as a whole, not just the district I would represent," she said. Supervisors must live in their district and are elected only by the voters in their district. Vagts is in her fifth year on the City Council and previously served for four years on the Decorah Planning and Zoning Commission. If elected supervisor, Vagts said she would miss being on the Council, but would welcome the chance to work on a larger set of issues at the county level.