WEST DES MOINES, IOWA (January 20, 2023) — Linn County Sheriff Brian D Gardner will serve as the 2023 President of the Iowa State Association of Counties (ISAC). President Gardner began his term on January 1, 2023. He and other members of the ISAC Board of Directors and Executive Committee were sworn in by former Linn County Recorder and ISAC Past President Joan McCalmant during the Association’s January board meeting.
Sheriff Gardner began his career with the Linn County Sheriff’s Office in 1980 as a communications operator. He became a reserve deputy sheriff in 1981 and began working as a full-time deputy sheriff in 1982. Following many promotions and holding a large number of positions within the office, he was elected Sheriff in 2008, assuming the position on January 1, 2009. He was reelected Sheriff in 2012, 2016 and 2020, and is currently serving his fourth term in office.
Sheriff Gardner is a lifelong Linn County resident and is a Kennedy High School graduate. He received an Associate of Science degree in Law Enforcement from Kirkwood Community College in 1991, a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice Administration from Mount Mercy College in 1995, and a Master of Public Administration degree in Criminal Justice from City University in Bellevue, Washington in 2004. He is a graduate of the 80th basic class of the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy in 1982, the 199th session of the FBI National Academy in 1999, and the 99th session of the National Sheriffs' Institute in 2010. He has been an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) since 1981 and a Certified Credible Leader (CCL) since 2017.
Sheriff Gardner is currently Chairperson of the Linn County Emergency Management Commission, the Chairperson of the Linn County 911 Service Board, the Chairperson of the Linn County Radio System Governance Board, and the Chairperson of the St. Luke's Hospital/UnityPoint Health Child Protection Center Advisory Board. He is a Past-President of the Iowa State Sheriffs' and Deputies' Association (2015) and is a former Chairperson of the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy Council (2016–2020). He is also a member of numerous professional organizations and serves on several local boards and committees.
Members of the 2023 ISAC Executive Committee are: President — Brian Gardner, Linn County Sheriff; 1st Vice President — Barry Anderson, Clay County Supervisor; 2nd Vice President — John Werden, Carroll County Attorney; and 3rd Vice President — Linda Zuercher, Clayton County Treasurer. Executive committee members are chosen by the ISAC Board of Directors and serve a one-year term.
There are 22 county officials that comprise the 2023 ISAC Board of Directors. Board members are chosen by their affiliate and serve on the ISAC Board until they are replaced by their affiliate. The primary responsibilities of board members include developing and monitoring the ISAC strategic plan, setting legislative priorities, and recommending ISAC’s budget. A full board listing is available at iowacounties.org.
The Iowa State Association of Counties is a private, non-profit corporation whose members are county officials and professionals from the 99 counties in Iowa. ISAC’s mission is to promote effective and responsible county government for the people of Iowa. For further information visit the ISAC website at iowacounties.org.
