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(Des Moines, IA) -- A proposal that would require counties which house regent universities to utilize districts in county supervisor elections is advancing through the Iowa Senate. Senate File 75 originally added the requirement in any county with a population over 125,000, but was amended on the Senate floor Monday. State Sen. Kara Warme (R-Ames) represents a district that covers a portion of rural Story County.
"What I hear again and again from my constituents is that those who are the permanent residents," Warme says. "The generational farmers. Those who are concerned about getting their crops to market, driving on secondary roads, managing their volunteer fire department. Those are their interests and they don't have any voice right now on the board of supervisors."
Opponents say the changes are targeting three specific counties and taking away local control. State Sen. Herman Quirmbach (D-Ames) says the current at-large system requires elected officials to reach out to those in rural areas.
"The population of the city of Ames is about two thirds of the Story County population in total," Quirmbach says. "So with a three member board of supervisors, if that was done by districts, then Ames would have two of those three seats."
He also says the bill is about gaining more power for the Republican party. State Sen. Dawn Driscoll (R-Williamsbug), whose district covers portions of rural Johnson County, says that's not the case.
"These people that live outside of these large communities want to be able to call on someone and say please advocate for me," Driscoll says. "And they are very, very passionate about having their voices heard."
The bill passed the Senate and now heads to the Iowa House of Representatives for further review.