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As election day approaches, voters are seeking information to guide their decisions about the candidates running for public office. In this series of candidate profiles, we aim to provide insights into the individuals running for local, state, and federal positions. Shirley Vermace is running for District Three Winneshiek County Supervisor. Involved in her community at every turn in her professional career, Vermace shared with DecorahNews.com the person who most inspired her own strong community involvement DN: What position or office are you running for? SV: District Three, Winn. County Supervisor DN: What is your educational background?SV: Decorah High School; University of Iowa, BA; Iowa State Association of Counties -Certified County Supervisor; National Association of Counties - Professional Leadership Certification DN: What professional or personal experiences do you have that qualify you for this position or office? SV: I worked as an aggregate inspector for the Iowa DOT while in college to help cover part of my tuition at the University of Iowa. I guess the 'road and bridge work' still intrigues me—and they are the foundation on which this county's business, tourism, education, and economic development depend! I will always try to vote to support county roads and bridges with 100% of the funds available in our budget to do so. I have work experience in a variety of fields, including; restaurant waitress, daycare management, elementary education, event planning, and marketing. In each of these fields it takes clear communication, consensus building, teamwork, a willingness to learn new things, and the ability to change one's mind when new facts are presented. Good public service by county supervisors includes knowing how to work with and cooperate on projects equally with county employees and department heads; county and regional non-profit organizations; and the community at large. Listening to all of these constituencies and their concerns, researching and finding the facts, including everyone at the table when decisions are to be made is the most effective way of serving the public; I believe I have shown I am committed to that cooperative model of county governance. Supervisors are NOT the CEOs of the county; we are a part of the larger piece. I can guarantee this community, we are very fortunate to have the county employees who work for Winneshiek County at every level – they make it all happen. (Not to mention they have to work with the constantly changing dynamics of an elected Board of Supervisors whose only qualifications for the job are to be 18 years old and live in our districts; we must be humble enough to admit we can learn from our employees and our community.) DN: What community organizations have you been involved with? SV: Decorah Schools PTO President; Winneshiek County Habitat for Humanity; Vesterheim; Unitarian Universalist Fellowship; Decorah Park and Recreations; Seamsters Union of Winneshiek County (sewing group for COVID); Decorah Dog Park; Helping Services for Youth and Families; Northeast Iowa Community Action Corporation board; Iowa RC&D board; Upper Explorerland Regional Planning and Development board; Northeast Iowa Behavioral Health board. DN: What motivated you to run for office?SV: My time on the Decorah Park and Recreation Board inspired me to continue to serve my community in some capacity. When a position on the Winn. County board of supervisors was open, I welcomed the opportunity to serve my community again, just in a larger way. Also, my mom, Jean Jenkins; she was a role model for our family for strong community involvement and volunteerism; I wish to carry on that commitment to the community in her honor with my own work. DN: What hobbies or interests do you have outside of politics? SV: Hiking, biking, cooking/baking, family time, playing cards with friends, reading, travel, and time with my new grand-daughter, of course! DN: What's your favorite local spot in Decorah, and why? SV: The many trails all over Decorah, whether I am on foot or on bike, I run into the nicest folks when out on the trails, everyone is always smiling and happy out there! (Or lost, I've helped many a tourist find their way out!) DN: How do you stay informed about local and national issues? SV: Local radio, print media, online media. National news from BBC, MSNBC, New York Times, Economist, Iowa Capitol Dispatch, IPTV, Des Moines Register, and others. DN: What three key issues do you hope to address if you are elected? (Or, alternatively, what are the three goals you hope to achieve while elected?)1) Affordable Housing - One of my colleagues and I both pushed for the Winneshiek County Planning and Zoning Commission to begin researching and writing ordinance language to allow Auxiliary Dwelling Units (ADUs) to be constructed in Winneshiek County to help alleviate the housing crisis facing our current residents and others wanting to move to our beautiful county. By allowing our current residents in the county to add housing within a new shed, or build a smaller, close-by or connected home for their parents, siblings, grandparents, or a new young family who want to work and raise their kids in this county, we can build a beloved community and be more welcoming to new residents; we can better care for and help grow our community. 2) Water Quality - The water quality of NE Iowa is in jeopardy with over 356 of the 1452 private wells tested in Winneshiek County showing elevated levels of nitrate; 607 of those wells showed elevated bacteria levels. (SOURCE: ewg.org/interactive-maps/2019_iowa_wells/map and Iowa DNR.) We must, as a larger community, have critical conversations about the protection of our water, soil, and air while at the same time find ways to support our agricultural industries and farm families. Water is life and we ALL depend on it. Many of you reading this article may remember last year's Winneshiek County Resources Study conducted by Luther College, with round table discussions held throughout the county. Attendees to those sessions included business owners, many farmers, and urban citizens. The final study was presented, and WATER was the TOP RATED resource respondents agreed they wanted to protect. We must address this issue as a whole community, with everyone at the table. 3) Transparency and open communication - We must, as a whole board, lean into the transparency of our meetings and decision making processes. We must also strive to listen to our community every step of the way. We must work with all the right folks at the table and be willing to learn from them. We must agree to videotape and publish all our meetings. DN: How would you describe your platform? What issues are you most concerned with? SV: It is hard to have a platform as a county supervisor. Much of what we deal with on a weekly basis is the mundane running of the basic county government: budgets, roads, bridges, policy. Government, even county government, is FOR AND BY THE PEOPLE, so our decisions and policies must be in the interest of the larger community and driven by the larger community. We must constantly ask ourselves: What is the best solution for the entire county? What is the best solution for the health and well-being of the residents of this county; What is the best, most prudent use of the taxpayers' money? DN: How does your candidacy address these issues? SV: I am willing to meet with the community any time, and I have held regular office hours after the majority of our Monday meetings each week. I am the only supervisor to hold public office hours each week. DN: How do you plan to engage with the community during your campaign and beyond? SV: I have shared my contact information on my webpage at shirleyvermace.com; I regularly post information and updates on my Vermace District 3 Supervisor facebook page; I have participated in 'Meet and Greet' events and hosted one of my own; and my office hours are open every Monday for the public. I also stop and have conversations every time I am out and about in the public. DN: How can voters support your campaign? SV: I would greatly appreciate your votes for Supervisor District 3—thank you! (District 3 is mainly Decorah wards 4 and 5 and Luther students on the west side, and a small portion on the other side of the river.) Please look for my name down further on your ballot! More information about Vermace can be found on Facebook or by her visiting her campaign website, www.shirleyvermace.com. Editor's Note: This candidate profile is intended to inform voters and aid in their research ahead of the election on November 5. It does not serve as a political endorsement of any candidate or party. If you are a candidate and would like to submit your own profile for publication, please contact breanna@decorahnews.com.

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CANDIDATE PROFILE: Shirley Vermace