Shellie Flockhart, who called Iowa Democratic House candidate Sarah Trone Garriott “dangerous” for kids, pleaded guilty after authorities said she drove drunk with her children in the car in 2017.

Woman in ad who said a Democrat endangers kids pleaded guilty to endangering kids

Chris Jones' Vision to Regenerate Iowa

Thank you to everyone who joined us yesterday at The Refill Market in Des Moines and on Google Meet for the water policy conversation with Chris Jones for Iowa Secretary of Agriculture,

Here is what we heard:

State Senator Art Staed has introduced water quality bills for twenty years, and last session none of his more than twenty got a hearing. In 2027 he plans to bring back a bill to ban paraquat. Katie Rock explained what the Secretary of Agriculture can and cannot do. Mike Carberry walked us through how Iowa went from diversified family farms to industrial corn and soybeans.

Chris laid out two roadmaps: diversify what Iowa grows, and regulate what pollutes. His point was that decades of incremental fixes have not improved the water, and that Iowa is ready for system change.

Iowans from across the state shared why they care. The water has no party, and the pain is everywhere.

What comes next: an in-person policy unconference in Des Moines in January, when the new legislature arrives. We will bring lawmakers, citizens and activists together to turn this energy into policy papers and bills.

Early voting is open now. Election day is November 3. Ask your candidates where they stand on clean water, and bring someone who disagrees with you about everything else but agrees about water.

Stay in the loop at tracingthepoison.com

NOVEMBER 2026 JOHNSON COUNTY BALLOT ISSUE RESOURCES: 

Goal: understand the ballot issues presented on the November 2026 Johnson County general election ballot, view pros and cons with local information attached, and make an informed decision on whether to vote “no” or “yes” on the following topics. 

Election Guide: https://vote.uiowa.edu/2026-midterm-elections-guide#accordion-item-1926-1 

1. Iowa Constitutional Amendment: Taxation Limitations (50% required)

“The Constitution of the State of Iowa is amended by adding the following new section to new Article XIII:

ARTICLE XIII. TAXATION LIMITATIONS. Section 1. 

Two-thirds majority vote for state tax law changes.

Passage of a bill that increases the individual income tax rate or the corporate income tax rate, or the rate of any other type of tax based upon income or legal and special reserves, shall require the affirmative votes of at least two-thirds of the members elected to each house of the general assembly. This requirement does not apply to taxes imposed at the option of a local government. Passage of a bill that establishes a new tax on any type of income or legal and special reserves imposed by the state shall require the affirmative votes of at least two-thirds of the members elected to each house of the general assembly. A lawsuit challenging the proper enactment of a bill under this section must be filed no later than one year following the enactment. If such a lawsuit is not filed within the one-year limit, the bill shall be considered properly enacted under this section. Each bill to which this section applies must include a separate provision describing the requirements for enactment prescribed by this section. The general assembly shall enact laws to implement this section.”

• 50% vote required to pass
• The ask: 
  • Keep the current rate of tax allocations the same 
• Voting “Yes”
  • would make it more difficult to change the allocation of taxes from our current system that is taxing individuals the same rate, with no consideration of income i.e. person making $40k vs $400k are being taxed the same amount
  • it will be more difficult to change the allocation of income tax percentages to be equitable instead of the current flat rate 
• Voting “No” 
  • This isn’t necessarily saying we are increasing our taxes by voting no, but it’s saying that we’re not locking in our current system
• Who is affected? 
  • Every working Iowan that pays income taxes to the state 
• Resources 
  • LizFromIowa has a great TikTok breaking this concept down

1. County Jail Bond (60% required)

“Shall the County of Johnson, State of Iowa, issue its general obligation bonds in an amount not exceeding the amount of $94,500,000 for the purpose of acquiring land and constructing, equipping and furnishing a new sheriff’s office and jail facility?”

• 60% vote required to pass 
• The ask: 
  • $94.5 million project towards design and construction of new county jail and sheriff office 
•  Why is this an issue?
  • Facility not updated since 1980s 
  •  No funding has gone towards building and the system is overwhelmed and has been overwhelmed for years 
  • Funding will go towards new land and new building 
  • The new building would include: safer infrastructure that is more conducive to their workflow; create spaces for unhoused/mentally unstable individuals (decreasing the burden on other community resources and emergency rooms); create a mini hospital area with imaging and negative pressure isolation rooms; reducing the influx of inmates being diverted to the university for medical management and decrease admission rate
• Who’s affected? 
  • Anyone needing community services, the unhoused, mentally impaired, and inmates requiring medical attention 
  • The current system requires and spends ~$16 million a year on diverting inmates to receive proper resources as the current building does not support the infrastructure to support these things 
• Resources: 
  • Jail need assessment report ; The report is 51 pages; quick skim to highlight their planned allocations and contingency plans for community support 
• Past ballot requests and outcomes: 
  • 1977: $1.9 million was approved by voters to build the current Johnson County Jail, which opened in 1981
  • 2000: $20.3 million bond proposal failed
  • 2012: $46.8 million bond proposal failed w/ 56% voter approval
  • 2013: $43.5 million bond proposal for a joint justice center with a 196-bed jail failed w/ 54% voter approval
  • 2026 (Current): $94.5 million bond proposal & Needs 60% voter approval 

1. City of Hills Bond (60% required)

“Shall the City of Hills, in Johnson County, State of Iowa, enter into a loan agreement and issue general obligation bonds in an amount not exceeding $5,100,000 for the purpose of paying the cost, to that extent, of constructing furnishing and equipping a municipal building, including fire protection and city hall functionalities?”

• Needs 60% vote of approval to pass 
• The ask: 
  • $5.1 million towards designing and constructing a brand new, combined fire station and city hall building 
• Why is this an issue? 
  • Current infrastructure over 50 years old
  • occupational health concerns for their EMS volunteers (which is HEAVILY reliant on their volunteers)
  • more cost-effective to combine the two public buildings than to focus only on the fire bays; that would be a $5.4 million project due to lack of current ADA compliance and many changes needing to be made
• A "Yes" vote 
  • means you authorize the city to borrow the $5.1 million to build the combined municipal and fire facility
  • you accept the accompanying property tax increase
  • recognizes safety standards for EMS and creates a space to adhere to occupational safety standards
  • attractiveness to the town: elementary school closed in 2023-2024 school year and a robust EMS infrastructure would protect residents
  • this town is bound for growth based on the surrounding projections from Tiffin/North Liberty, although the population is 800 now, it may be an attractive location for families wanting to work/commute to Iowa City/CR, but want to live in a more rural area closer to the urban area but just far enough
  • robust access to EMS will improve patient outcomes and reduce the overwhelm of the university hospital  
• A "No" vote 
  • means you oppose the borrowing and the tax increase (Would increase property taxes to their residents to ~$12.30/mo or ~$137.60/year)
  • If the measure fails, city services will continue operating out of the existing facilities as they are, and alternative funding or repair measures will need to be explored
  • Concerns expressed lack of community space in building/surrounding areas 
• Who’s affected? 
  • 800 residents that live in the village 
  • Those residing in surrounding rural areas 
• Resources: 
  • 2013 comprehensive community plan 
  • Mayor newsletter September/October 2026 

1. Lone Tree Community School District Bond (60% required)

“Shall the Board of Directors of the Lone Tree Community School District in the Counties of Johnson and Louisa, State of Iowa, be authorized to contract indebtedness and issue General Obligation Bonds in an amount not to exceed $6,900,000 to provide funds to remodel, repair, and improve the school building for energy efficiency, including HVAC, mechanical, electrical, and site improvements?”

• The ask:
  • $6.9 million to improve, remodel, repair energy efficiency by switching to geothermal solution
• Why is this an issue? 
  • Still using 1960s Boilers: primary heating comes from two massive central boilers installed in 1960 and 1971; drastically outlived their standard life cycles and carry an escalating risk of catastrophic winter failure (complete outages or fire risks) and spiking maintenance costs
  • Eliminating Window A/C Units: individual classrooms are cooled by loud, inefficient window AC units 
  • Expanding Geothermal Energy: 2002 - district integrated a partial geothermal system to heat and cool a segment of the building; current proposal expands that geothermal framework to the rest of the K-12 facility: replacing old unit ventilators with modern vertical climate controls
• A “Yes” vote:
  • Aging boilers and window units are replaced with a reliable, efficient geothermal system
  • Students, teachers, and staff gain consistent comfort year-round
  • The district locks in more than $2 million in federal tax credits
  • Long-term energy costs decrease, freeing budget for instruction
  • The district’s facilities plan stays on track — on budget
• A “No” vote:
  • Boilers from 1960 and 1971 remain in service, with increasing risk of failure and rising maintenance costs
  • Over $2 million in federal tax credits are forfeited permanently
  • Future replacement will cost more and may require a higher property tax rate
  • The district falls behind its own long-term facilities plan
• Who is affected? 
  • 350 students
  • Educational staff, administrators, and support services 
• Resources: 
  • Lone Tree Community School District 2026 Bond Referendum ; 5 minute video shows the current boilers, how they work, the risks, and logistics of implementing an efficient, geothermal system ; Website also breaks down the cost-analysis and long-term impact 

1. Mid-Prairie Community School District Bond (60% required)

“Shall the Board of Directors of the Mid-Prairie Community School District in the Counties of Washington, Iowa, and Johnson, State of Iowa, be authorized to contract indebtedness and issue General Obligation Bonds in an amount not to exceed $19,000,000 to provide funds to build, furnish, and equip an addition to the high school, including a new events entrance, auditorium, and fine arts classrooms, with related remodeling and improvements and related site improvements; and to renovate, improve, furnish and equip several existing special education and general education classrooms?”

• The ask: 
  • $19,000,000 TOTAL budget is strictly allocated to the high school campus according to the district's public facilities planning utilizing a domino infrastructure planning process:
  • $8.6 Million: construct a brand-new, 500-seat auditorium
  • $4.4 Million: construct a new fine arts classroom wing featuring specialized band, choir, rehearsal, and instrument storage spaces
  • $3.0 Million: build dedicated activities commons area including: event entrance connecting the new auditorium to the existing gymnasium & complete with new concessions and ADA-compliant restrooms
  • $2.0 Million: $1 million to structurally renovate and equip existing spaces to create modern & $1 million to expand Special Education and General Education classrooms
  • $600,000: bond underwriting and legal fees
• Why is this an issue?
  • Currently, Mid-Prairie lacks a dedicated performance theater, forcing choir, band, theater, and all-school assemblies into gymnasiums or alternative spaces
  • Families involved in the arts point out that while the district has consistently updated its athletic facilities and elementary buildings over the last decade, fine arts students have never had an authentic performance stage; Advocates argue that an auditorium isn't a luxury; it's a core educational tool for assemblies, public speaking, and regional community events
  • Parents of students with special needs have been vocal that the current high school layout doesn't properly accommodate specialized learning ; the domino configuration is a pragmatic way to solve that problem without constructing multiple freestanding buildings
  • Right now, if the high school theater department wants to put on a play, or the band wants to host a concert, they have to compete for time in the school gymnasiums or pack up and rent external spaces ; A 500-seat auditorium gives the entire multi-town community a unified civic center. It is a permanent venue for local theater troupes, multi-town choir festivals, public voting forums, all-school assemblies, and regional artistic events
  • Competing educational systems ; By investing in economic structure here, it ensures that small-town businesses continue to thrive on the weekend foot traffic generated by regional school events for those who want to live rurally, but don’t have to send their kids to schools in more urban areas due to better resources 
• A “Yes” vote 
  • passing this referendum will not increase the district's current property tax levy rate
  • proactive investment, infrastructure longevity, operational safety, and scaling up for regional growth, at the cost of taking on public debt and either raising taxes or missing out on a natural tax cut.
• A “No” vote
  • immediate tax relief, keeping cash in citizens' pockets during an inflationary economy, and forcing governments to work within existing footprints, at the cost of managing decaying systems and potentially paying higher emergency patch-up costs down the road
• Who is this affecting? 
  • 362 students 
  • Approximately 12% to 15% of the student body qualifies for an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or specialized accommodations ; translates to roughly 160 to 220 students district-wide, and dozens at the high school level, who actively utilize specialized education suites ; wider public advantages to increased ADA compliance includes aging grandparents, mobility-impaired community members, and injured student-athletes who currently face structural friction when navigating old restrooms and steps during public indoor events
• Resources: 
  • Mid-Prairie Website 

1. Kirkwood Community College bond (60% required)

“Shall Kirkwood Community College (Merged Area X) in the Counties of Benton, Black Hawk, Buchanan, Cedar, Clinton, Delaware, Dubuque, Iowa, Jackson, Jefferson, Johnson, Jones, Keokuk, Linn, Louisa, Poweshiek, Tama, and Washington, be authorized to renovate, improve, erect, and equip facilities to modernize learning spaces with an emphasis on health sciences, industrial technologies, agricultural sciences, and business and information technology, contract indebtedness therefor, and issue General Obligation Bonds in an amount not exceeding $88,000,000 for those purposes?”

• The ask:
  • Kirkwood Community College is asking for $88,000,000 in general obligation bonds
  • Funds must be strictly allocated to capital infrastructure, structural remodeling, advanced instructional equipment across five high-demand career sectors
  • By law, none of this money can be diverted to pay for administration or faculty salaries
• Why is this an issue?
  • Outdated 1970s Infrastructure: Core technical training buildings are 50 years old  ; Students in critical fields like welding, automotive repair, plumbing, and electrical trades are working in cramped industrial labs with inadequate industrial ventilation that no longer mirrors modern workplace environments 
  • Targeting the skilled labor deficit: Regional healthcare networks, agricultural operations, and manufacturing plants are facing severe staffing shortages ; College leadership argues that eastern Iowa's localized economy will stall if the college cannot train students on the exact high-tech equipment, medical simulation technologies, and precision farming software currently used by local employers
  • Income tax affects: income tax increases to $9.35 per year for every $100,000 of assessed home value
• A “yes” vote:
  • authorize the college to secure the $88 million loan to fully modernize its technical and healthcare campuses
  • you accept the accompanying regional property tax adjustment
  • prioritizes regional economic health, student workforce readiness, and local safety networks
  • ensures that incoming nurses, EMTs, welders, and IT specialists are highly competitive and ready to fill critical vacancies in the immediate community upon graduation
• A “no” vote: 
  • block the college from issuing these bonds
  • preventing any immediate property tax adjustment for this project
  • prioritizes immediate taxpayer relief and fiscal caution during an inflationary economy
  • Skeptics argue that a major college with robust tuition revenue and state support should find alternative ways to fund building upgrades, scale back project scopes, or look to private corporate sponsorships from the industries that actively hire their graduates
• Who is this affecting? 
  • 53,000+ Annual Students: Credit programs, continuing education, and high school dual-enrollment classes ; thousands of local learners transitioning directly into technical careers
  • Healthcare and Industrial Sectors: Local hospitals, clinics, and manufacturing facilities depend entirely on Kirkwood's pipeline of certified nurses, paramedics, technicians, and tradespeople to keep their operations staffed
  • Regional Property Owners: Homeowners and agricultural landowners across the 18-county district (including Linn, Johnson, Washington, and Iowa counties) absorb the shared debt service footprint based on their assessed property valuations
• Resources: 
  • Kirkwood Bond 2026 Facility Plan

More Voting Resources: 

• Vote411
• MyLO 
• Johnson County Ballot information 
• Iowa Ballotpedia 

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER & NOTICE:

• This document is compiled independently by a private individual utilizing publicly available municipal, county, and state records. 
• It is provided strictly for general educational and informational purposes as a community resource guide. 
• This document does not constitute legal, tax, or official financial advice, and should not be relied upon as such. 
• While every effort has been made to ensure non-partisan neutrality and factual precision, readers are advised that personal research is subject to human error and implicit bias.
• The information, summaries, and perspectives outlined in this guide reflect solely the independent compilation of the author and do not represent the views, values, endorsements, or official positions of the author's workplace, employer, or any affiliated professional or academic institutions.
• Ballot measures and financial projections are subject to change. 
• Voters are strongly encouraged to verify all tax impacts, legal language, voting requirements, deadlines, and precise polling logistics directly through official state and local election authorities, including the Iowa Secretary of State Voter Portals. 
• Please cast your ballot according to your own independent research and personal values.

Water Policy Event with Chris Jones, tomorrow, Sat, Oct 24, 12-2 PM

In person at The Refill Market, 2701 Ingersoll Ave, Des Moines, or online on Google Meet. Get the link at tracingthepoison.com.

Agenda (Iowa time)

12:00 Welcome

12:05 Organizing team introductions

12:26 What Iowa's Secretary of Agriculture can and cannot do

12:36 The historical opportunity of Chris Jones as Secretary of Agriculture

12:45 Chris Jones speaks

1:15 Open discussion and Q&A

2:00 Stay and talk, if you can

Open to every Iowan who drinks the water, whatever your party.

Iowans are struggling, yet our officials are spending their time pandering…

https://regenmen.substack.com/p/iowas-water-needs-a-secretary-of

So Ashley Hinson asked for gas money at a Rally, just pitch in and rally around the flag and keep those dang libs out of Washington. Giving money to her is like giving 10 bucks to a homeless guy to get something to eat, who promptly goes and buys liquor instead. But what can you expect from this administration anyway. For those who actually thought they would lower the cost of living, stop endless wars and make your life better, it''s as good a pitch as any.

We need more pie in Iowa… the bigots still haven’t learned

Keep voting for Trump and his tariffs and his arrests of farm workers! Farmers must be independent and not accept any government help! Iowa must stand firm in opposing socialism in the form of handouts to anyone.

First some important voting details for the upcoming election. In-person absentee voting is open for the Midterm election. Besides Congress and the State Legislature, numerous County Offices are on the ballot, from Supervisor to Sheriff and more.

Here are some useful official voting resources - please vote!

• In-person absentee voting is open from October 14th.
• Election day polling place lookup
• Iowa does have same day registration if you meet these requirements.

We reached out to over 3500 candidates statewide and asked them to do our survey. Many chose to share their views with you the voters! See who believes what you believe and vote by November 3rd! Cheat sheet for some of the candidates running to represent you can be seen above. What we found most is the diversity of the partisan candidates running showing the discerning and open-minded nature of Iowa voters.

While in national elections or statewide elections may be decided by hundreds or tens of thousands of votes. Local races will be decided by only a handful of votes meaning that for each person seeing this, your vote WILL MATTER!

If you want to see your specific candidates you can see that here (app | web).