27 Oct 2026

Nine Questions That Should Be in the Iowa 2026 Gubernatorial Debates

By Todd McGreevy
Iowa Governor Candidates Zach Lahn and Rob Sand Getting Nothing Done In the So Called Debates

Lazy Uni-Potty Platitudes and Posturing or Genuine Problem-Solving Leaders?

The two candidates for Iowa governor (the uni-potty worked very hard to eliminate any third-party candidate from getting on the ballot) will be “slugging it out” on four televised debates: Tuesday, October 6, at 7 p.m. Davenport, hosted by KWQC; Wednesday, October 14, at 7 p.m. – Sioux City, hosted by KTIV; Wednesday, October 21, at 7 p.m. – Iowa PBS debate, airing statewide; Tuesday, October 27, at 6:30 p.m. – Cedar Rapids, hosted by KCRG and The Gazette. The limited accessibility to this debate series begs the question, "Have the Iowa governor debates been captured by a single media outlet Gray Media to be used both as leverage to secure mobile app subscribers and as a beta testing ground with limited visibitliy to sus out the nuances of how these two uni-party candidates shall present themselves in the final stretch to November 3rd election day?" 

14 Oct 2026

How Does One Vote for the Undeserving?

By Kathleen McCarthy
Cartoon by George Sedlak copyright 2026

My frustration with the looming 2026 midterm election is that so few candidates, whether incumbents or challengers, deserve my vote. Most incumbent career politicians stopped representing voting constituencies long ago. Newbie challengers hit the ground running in place, relegated to the fringe and saddled with newbie duties, such as marathon fund raising for their respective parties – duties deliberately designed to distract away from the serious business occurring elsewhere.

14 Oct 2026

Three Topics for Scott County Supervisor 2026 Election Candidates

By Todd McGreevy
Scott County Board of Supervisors 2026.10.06 Committe of the Whole Meeting Screen Shot

Policy Practices, NDAs, and County Home Rule Relative to Iowa Utilities Commission

There are five supervisor seats on the county board, and elected supervisors serve four-year terms. This year, there are three open seats, and two of the three incumbents are running again, as Ross Paustian did not run again. Only one of the two incumbents, Jean Dickson, responded to the questionnaire. Supervisors are paid $45-50,000 annually plus health and retirement benefits. Five of the seven candidates vying for the three seats participated this year. Responses are in alphabetical order by family name.

14 Oct 2026

Two Topics for Scott County Recorder Candidates: No Appointment Necessary? and Mortgage Fraud Protection

By Todd McGreevy
OCT 2026 Scott County Recorder Property Fraud Alert Webpage Screenshot

According to the Scott County, Iowa Recorder's Office's web page, "The Recorder's Office was created by the First Legislative Assembly of the Territory of Iowa in 1839."
The incumbent Recorder, Rita Vargas has served since 2002, and last fiscal year was paid $102,313 plus benefits. Vargas is not running for re-election and there are two candidates for a single seat that has a four-year term, Tony Paone and Michael Wulf. Responses are in alphabetical order by family name.

14 Oct 2026

Three Topics for 2026 Scott County Treasurer Election Candidates: By Appointment Only?, Paul Revere Square vs County Store, Public Hours

By Todd McGreevy
OCT 2026 Scott County Treasurer Office Webpage

The incumbent Scott County Treasurer, Tony Knobbe has served since 2023, and last fiscal year was paid $102,313 plus benefits. Knobbe is not running for re-election and there are two candidates for a single seat that has a four-year term, Greg Guy and Samuel Samara. Responses are in alphabetical order by family name.

16 Dec 2025

Impotent civiCUKS

By Kathleen McCarthy

Propaganda has proven itself to be among the most useful tools in the behavior modifiers' toolbox for capturing human cognitivity and strategically directing it to predetermined, highly specific conclusions. The success of propaganda campaigns depends on the techniques used, and the resources available for deploying and anchoring propaganda, including whether said messaging induces harmony or discord relative to the established hierarchy of social norms and mores.

13 Aug 2025

Colorado Election Champion Imprisoned for What She Could Say in the Future

By Kathleen McCarthy
August 2025 Cartoon by Ed Newmann Uncle Scam's Election Casino

I cannot stress the importance of familiarizing yourselves with Tina Peter's ongoing case.  Judge Barrett ordered Tina's incarceration prior to her appeal being heard. Not for any of the crimes she was convicted for, but for her potential speech, for what she might say that he determined might be potentially dangerous.

06 Jul 2025

Restoring the People's Authority for Elections Is Now or Never

By Kathleen McCarthy
Captain Seth Keshel Repariing America's Broken Elections Lihue-Hawai'k March 9.2023.

No amount of media manipulation of election coverage, past or present, can restore the trust that has been lost relative to the security, fairness, and authenticity of U.S. elections, especially in the last decade. The election bureaucracy, in full cooperation with mainstream media, have maintained a pathological denial and suppression of widespread irregularities, including compelling supporting evidence, dooming its credibility going forward.

13 May 2025

Timeline: Elected Scott County Officials Keeping Public Information Secret Cost Taxpayers $93,000: Scott County Played Games Even After Iowa Supreme Court Ruling

By Kathleen McCarthy
Scott County Iowa Vacancy Appointment Committee 2022 Tompkins Knobbe Vargas

For two years, lifelong Scott County residents Dr Allen Diercks and Diane Holst (a former Scott County Board of Supervisor) put their money where their convictions are and hired Attorney Mike Meloy to take Scott County, Iowa, and Auditor Kerri Tompkins to court in 2023 to compel her in the direction of greater transparency and participation with Scott Countians by disclosing the list of names and addresses of 27 candidates who submitted résumés for a vacant supervisor seat on the Scott County Board of Supervisors (SCBS).

28 Aug 2024

Who Has Access and/or Control of County Election Data Before, During, and After an Election?

By Kathleen McCarthy

Scott County has purchased all-new election equipment and software for the upcoming, highly contentious 2024 election. It is fair to say that the purchase was fast-tracked in 2023 with approval by the Scott County Board of Supervisors, even though relevant concerns and questions from the public were not addressed, let alone satisfied.

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