John Null, county supervisor Dist. 3

     In an effort to better inform the voters of Jones County, the Monticello Express conducted separate interviews with both Republican candidates running for Jones County Supervisor in District 3. Both names will appear on the Tuesday, June 5 Primary Election ballot.

     The following are John Null’s responses.

Town:  Scotch Grove

Education: Null is a graduate of Monticello High School, Kirkwood Community College. He continued his college at Iowa State University.

     Null has been self-employed for 35 years, working for area farmers and running his own business, Blade Pest Control.

     “I worked for grocery stores in the area, too, as a teen,” he said.

     The family business is now in its second generation, with Null’s son taking it over.

     Null has now been working for Culver’s Garden Center in Marion for the past two years.

     He and his wife, Nanci, have been married for 37 years. They have two sons, Josh and Joel. Joel is married with Jennie, and they have two daughters: Josie and Lucie.

     The entire Null family resides in Jones County.

Why should Jones County voters vote for you? “I am not a ‘yes’ man,” said Null. “I will make the tough decisions, as long as they are good for the majority.”

     Null said his years of business have provided him with extensive public relations skills.

     “Public service has a lot to do with how you succeed,” he said. “The customer may not always be right, but they are the customer and should be treated with dignity and respect.”

     Null said he will be accessible to the public, and will always listen to their concerns.

     “You can’t give everybody everything,” he said. “Sometimes half a loaf will work.”

What do you believe are the core responsibilities of being a county supervisor? Null said you need to listen to the voters, being available/accessible, and a problem solver.

     “I have the ability to look outside the box, and find a simple solution to impossible problems,” he said.

What specific goals do you have in serving the citizens of Jones County? Null has been a part of a grassroots movement with the goal of saving and preserving Mon Maq Dam.

     “I don’t believe we should spend $2 million to remove it,” he said. “The dam still creates value.”

     Null said he would also like to see small town Main Streets come back to life.

     “People need to remember to patronize the local businesses,” he urged. “You’re not helping those owners buy vacation homes, but supporting families and local tax base.”

     Null said after running his own small business for years, he knows the struggles business owners face.

What do you believe are biggest concerns/issues facing Jones County? What are some good things going on throughout the county? On negative side, Null said there are still some county roads that need to be fixed or replaced “due to the fact that they have outlived their life expectancy.” He said the same could be said for bridges.

     Null said the county also has to make some decisions in regards to Stone Bridge.

     “They have to figure out a way to mediate and move forward with what’s going on, whether it needs to be fixed or what the outcome is going to be,” he said.

     On the positive side, Null said the county does a good job of keeping up with contract rock and the care of the road system. He also praised the lake project at Central Park.

What would be your priorities when preparing the county budget? “The big fish is Secondary Roads,” said Null “We need to take care of transportation, making our roads safe and passable, whether it’s repairs, rock, or snow removal.”

     Null said it’s important for the county to keep its budget in the black, while taking care of the citizens.

     “We still need to take care of the elderly, education and our veterans,” he said. “Because if it wasn’t for them, we would not enjoy the freedoms we have.”

     When it comes to educational opportunities, Null pointed to the Jones County Leadership Program, run through Kirkwood’s Regional Center.

     “It’s a fine program, I question that taxpayers funding it,” he said. He said there needs to be more skin in the game in supporting programming like this.

     “We can’t support everything that comes along,” added Null. “It sets a precedence and opens the door to everything that comes in.”

     Null said he could see supporting programs like this, but not with taxpayers’ money.

     As an artist, Null said his favorite color to use when painting is red. “There are so many shades of red, but they don’t belong in the county budget.”

Additional comments: “I am not a politician,” said Null. “I’m the fourth-strong quarterback.”

     He said as a businessman, he’s made good, sound decisions in his life. He sees the glass as half full versus half empty.

     “We’re all in this together,” he concluded. “We need to keep moving ahead positively.”