Patrick Knaack.

GRUNDY COUNTY – Ahead of the Tuesday, June 2 primary election, the Sun Courier sent brief questionnaires to all three candidates running in the contested Republican primary for Grundy County Supervisor District 4 to replace longtime Supervisor Mark Schildroth who is retiring at the end of the year.

Four Republican candidates initially filed paperwork to run for Schildroth’s seat, including Barry Ehrig, Patrick Knaack, Lon C Larsen, and Derek J. Noteboom. Noteboom ultimately withdrew from the race. No Democrats filed for the June primary.

District 4 includes all of Black Hawk Township (Reinbeck), most of Washington (excluding Grundy Center) and Lincoln, and the southern half of Grant. The office of Grundy County Supervisor District 4 is a four-year term.

Knaack’s responses are featured below.

PATRICK KNAACK

Age: 59

Residence (and hometown, if different): 230th Street, Reinbeck

High school alma mater: Reinbeck High School

Profession: Automobile Industry

Education: Robotics Degree

Family: Was married for 29 years and have two grown children

1) Why are you running for the Grundy County Board of Supervisors? (What motivated your candidacy at this time?)

As a lifelong resident of Grundy County. My goal, if elected, is to listen to the people of Grundy County and represent them in the best manner possible.

2) Have you previously run for or held elected office? If so, please describe.

Yes. I was elected to the board of the Iowa Auto Dealers Association (IADA) for 2 terms to represent all the independent dealers across Iowa. I was also a Deacon for the United Church of Christ in Reinbeck

3) What connections do you have to communities across District 4, particularly to Reinbeck?

Not only was I born, raised, and graduated from Reinbeck, I have farmed most of my life in Grundy County. I also raised two children that also graduated from the Gladbrook-Reinbeck school district.

4) What values or priorities led you to affiliate with the Republican Party as opposed to the Democratic Party?

I am affiliated with the Republican Party because I generally believe government works best when it is limited, accountable, and focused on creating the conditions for individuals, families, and businesses to succeed.

5) What are your top two or three priorities if elected?

A few of my goals are to do what’s best for Grundy County which would include voting against eminent domain at all costs. Also, make sure our secondary roads are properly maintained at all times.

6) What issues are you hearing most from voters in Grundy County currently?

I have mostly heard complaints about our secondary roads and also when the Rock Island Clean Line energy program was trying to go through our county most people were against it and they wanted to take the land via eminent domain and that upset many land owners in Grundy County.

7) Why should voters choose you over your opponents in this race?

Voters should choose me because I’m focused on practical results, transparent leadership, and putting our county first. I understand the real challenges families, workers, businesses, and seniors in our county are facing because I live them too.