Hunter
07/30/26
Nearly two dozen local officeholders from around Johnson County signed a media integrity pledge saying “no” to deceptively edited or otherwise fake audio, video, or photos used in local campaigns.
The pledge comes in the wake of an online ad that aired ahead of the June Johnson County Supervisor primary election between incumbents Rod Sullivan and V. Fixmer-Oraiz. In the ad attacking Sullivan, a PAC called IC Progress edited together two different answers from a League of Women Voters forum to make it seem like Sullivan said something he never actually said. The incident was described in a May 28th KCRG-TV report.
Those that sign the pledge say they won’t create or use fake audio, video, or photos in their campaigns, and will refuse to accept money from, or give money to, those who do.
Iowa City City Councilor Shawn Harmsen drafted the pledge, and said, “Vigorous disagreement over policies and people is one thing in a campaign, but trying to trick voters into believing something that never happened…catapults over the line.”
Harmsen sent emails out to current officeholders in various jurisdictions in Johnson County. The pledge, and the list of those who signed on to the pledge so far is available by clicking below.