The bottom line for Carrie Teninty is simple. She enjoys being a civil servant.
The desire to serve the public is the main reason she is challenging incumbent Democrat Brian Morgan for a seat on the Wapello County Board of Supervisors. If she wins, the board will consist exclusively of Republicans.
Teninty, 50, who has been Eldon’s city clerk for 24 years, acknowledges that a seat on the board will be a change for her, but one that she believes fits into her larger purpose.
“I enjoy helping the public with any issues they may have regarding city or local government in any capacity,” she said. “It will be an adjustment, certainly an adjustment, but it’s all coming together for a bigger, bigger capacity.”
Teninty mentioned what she experiences as a lack of transparency within the current board, but also in the accessibility of board members. If elected, she says that will change, at least on her part.
“I like transparency, especially when it comes to their budgets. If you don’t have it, you can’t spend it,” she said. “I haven’t looked at their budgets, so I don’t know exactly where they spend their money per department.”
Teninty is the one who created the budgets for Eldon and believes in a balanced budget. She also writes grants for the city and points to a grant she received for better access to a boat dock. She is currently completing a grant for the KD Center, a community center in the city.
‘We’re going to finish that. We wrote it through the Wapello County Foundation,” she said. “It used to house the old railroad, and they converted that building into a community center. It needed updated windows, (accessible) bathrooms and floors.”
The grant for the jetties came through the Ottumwa Regional Legacy Foundation and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.
“We did that in two different phases,” she said. “We expanded the dock area so there’s kayak access down below. The area can hold three boats at a time, and then we had a shelter built and a nice sidewalk. It’s really nice there.”
As for the potential Dusty Fox Wind project, which could see as many as 50 wind turbines built in the northeastern part of the province, Teninty is in favor of the project, but if elected she would have to abstain from any vote on it since her family signed. a lease agreement for a turbine.
“I feel like it’s a good thing, and I know it would bring a lot of tax dollars to Wapello County,” she said. “I should abstain because I do benefit financially from it.”
Teninty believes the county’s roads need investment and improvement, but the county also offers many positives for its residents.
“I think we have a great addition at the American Gothic House Center. On Thursdays I actually mow at the Gothic House,” she said. “Their website shows they get 12,000 visitors, but I believe it’s more than that. There are a lot of people coming who aren’t even recognized in those numbers.
“I think Pioneer Ridge Nature Center is a great asset and I use that myself,” Teninty said. “I think people are using the Des Moines River. I know there has been an ATV park in the past. There is a lot of underutilized space. I understand it costs money, but you need something for people to do in Wapello District.”
After consultation with the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board, Teninty should also recuse herself from any contract-related issues with the state highway department since her husband works in the department.
Teninty would remain Eldon’s city clerk if elected to the Board of Supervisors. During her campaign, her suitability to run for office was discussed.
“That’s one of the biggest things I’ve heard: ‘Are you even allowed to run?’” she said. “A lot of questions have been asked, but because I am not an elected official as city manager, I am allowed to do that.
“But I spoke to my council before I even turned in my paperwork, and they are very helpful.”
Teninty works about 30 hours a week as a receptionist Tuesday through Friday, leaving her open on Mondays. She is open to moving meetings to the evening if it means more transparency for the public. She also said that being a supervisor takes “a lot more hours than what I’m working now.”
‘I think it’s a lot of hours, especially in the beginning to learn how it all works. “It’s definitely not going to a meeting every other Tuesday,” she said. “Even as a city manager, I can tell you that a 30-hour work week is generally not a 30-hour work week.”
Teninty had no complaints in dealing with the current board.
“They have always treated Eldon very well. If Eldon needs anything, they always come by,” she said. “When we need bigger equipment to dig large drainage ditches… we recently asked them to come to the Wapello County Fairgrounds to help shake the roads down there.
“They obviously have bigger equipment than us, so we just call them and they come right away.”
If elected, Teninty said she would be involved immediately after the election, especially in the budget portion of the process since she would be sworn in in January, in the middle of budget season.
“I start examining budgets in November and seeing what they’re spending money on,” she said. ‘I would comment on their annual reports because they will clearly be different from the budgets.
“But I don’t have any pet projects, and I don’t really have anything that I want to see done from the beginning,” Teninty said. “So I’m just going to learn and understand everything.”
