Madison County supervisor under investigation for election misconduct, voter intimidation
The chairwoman of the Madison County Supervisors, Heather Stancil, is under investigation following a Facebook comment that has raised concerns of election misconduct and voter intimidation. The Madison County sheriff, Jason Barnes, has referred the case to the Iowa attorney general's office for further review.
The controversy stems from a Facebook post made by Stancil in response to a petition for a special election to fill the county auditor's position. In her comment, Stancil stated that if a special election were held, she would "work to find ways to offset that additional cost to taxpayers by shrinking government."
This comment has drawn criticism from residents, including Vicky Brenner, one of the organizers of the petition. Brenner, who was named in Stancil's post, expressed her disappointment and concern.
"No elected official should ever coerce or intimidate the citizens' right to have their voice heard," Brenner said.
The petition effort began after the Madison County Board of Supervisors appointed Matthew Schwarz as county auditor in a 2-1 vote. Brenner and other residents felt excluded from the decision-making process and initiated the petition to call for a special election.
The situation comes amid broader controversies involving county officials. The former county treasurer, Amanda DeVos, was recently charged with felonious misconduct in office for allegedly altering documents to falsely show payment of vehicle registration and property taxes.
Brenner emphasized that the petition is not politically motivated but rather focused on ensuring the election of a qualified and dedicated individual.
"This is about electing a qualified person, somebody that has the qualifications, and more importantly, somebody who cares deeply about serving the citizens of Madison County," she said.
The petition has already garnered over 800 signatures, with organizers needing an additional 300-500 signatures to trigger a special election.
Attempts to reach Stancil for comment have been unsuccessful.