Editor’s Note: We are introducing the candidates for Taylor County Supervisor District 1 this week. Currently, District 1 is filled by Ron Fitzgerald who decided not to run again. Charles Ambrose and Rick Cabbage are both Republican candidates.
Rick and Jolene Cabbage
Rick Cabbage of rural New Market is a Republican candidate for Taylor County Supervisor District 1.
Rick is a life-long resident of New Market and graduated from New Market School. He has always been involved in agriculture and is district sales manager for Syngenta, a position he has served in for 22 years.
He is no stranger to public service. He has served on the New Market City Council and the New Market School Board. He is very involved with the New Market Fourth of July celebration and currently is president of the New Market Foundation and past head of the housing committee. They have been able to tear down four or five dilapidated houses with the help of the community and cleaned up the lots so they can be sold. Right now, their fourth house was built. The community is wrapping up fundraising for a walking trail.
“New Market is always in my thoughts,” said Cabbage.
Cabbage said he worked with the county supervisors when New Market was dealing with abandoned properties. He attended a few supervisor meetings and was interested in the workings of the county. Ron Fitzgerald helped New Market quite a bit.
“There are some things with the county that I want to get a little more personal look at to see if there is something we could change,” said Cabbage. “I’d love for Taylor County to be in the top third of the counties in Iowa. Our dealings with New Market and the board of supervisors have always been really good people to work with. I would just like to take another look to see if there other things we can do economically”
Cabbage said when New Market was dealing with housing issues, he started going to seminars to see how other small towns deal with it. One seminar in Grinnell was eye-opening. They talked about how other communities and counties promote growth and sustainable growth.
Charles Ambrose
Charles Ambrose of Gravity is running on the Republican ticket District 1 Taylor County Supervisor.
Charles Ambrose was a supervisor for 11 years. He decided to run after several people approached him and encouraged him to run because of his experience.
“I think I can offer Taylor County some good leadership,” said Ambrose. “In the past record, I have always tried to do what is right for Taylor County as a whole. When I was in there before, I was conservative financially. If I’m elected again, I will try to spend a great deal of time watching the money and make sure tax money is spent wisely. If it’s not good for the county, then you shouldn’t be doing it.”
Ambrose currently serves as mayor of Gravity, a position he has held on and off for 30 years and served on the city council. He is active in the Bedford Lions Club and serves on the Taylor County Museum board.