Chesney promises mediation, better school and Hispanic relations

I sent an email to many area friends regarding the candidacy of Brooke Chesney, who is running as a “write-in” candidate for Washington, IA, County Attorney. Here’s Brooke’s flyer:

Write in

 

Brooke Chesney

 

for

 

Washington County Attorney

 

 

I promise to:

 

1. Employ the Mediation Ordinance if needed.

 

2. Use county jail inmates to do community service.

 

3. Promote openness and trust in local government.

 

4. Spend forfeiture funds on training for officers.

 

5. Strengthen ties with the schools.

 

6. Improve relations with the Hispanic community.

 

 

Brooke was born and raised in Dubuque, Iowa where her parents run a small food distribution business. Her grandparents farm in southern Dubuque County. She’s the descendant of five generations of hard-working eastern Iowans.

 

Brooke served as Assistant County Attorney in Washington County for the last year. In that time she has developed a strong working relationship with law enforcement and county personnel. She has truly come to know and care for the people of Washington County and is committed to work with law enforcement for the good of all Washington County residents. Brooke will unite all the best resources available to make things run smoothly. Her strong work ethic, passion for the job, and desire for unity will bring an open door back to the position of county attorney.

 

Now you have a choice. Write in Brooke Chesney for County Attorney. Brooke for the people – working together for the good of Washington County.

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Partridge, Greiner think Chesney could reduce inter-gov’t hostility

I sent an email to many area friends regarding the candidacy of Brooke Chesney, who is running as a “write-in” candidate for Washington, IA, County Attorney. One factor in my support was the endorsement of Jerry Partridge, former County Attorney, whose opinions I trust. Here’s the press release in which his support, and that of Iowa Rep. Sandy Greiner, were announced:

 

Greiner & Partridge endorse Chesney for County Attorney

In an unusual display of bipartisan cooperation during election season, State Representative Sandy Greiner (R), Keota, and former Washington County Attorney Jerry Partridge (D), Washington, stepped outside their party affiliations to endorse the write in candidacy of Brooke Chesney (I) for Washington County Attorney.
Chesney, a former Assistant Washington County Attorney announced her plans to seek the office as an Independent last week.

Partridge listed several reasons for his endorsement. “Chesney has more experience than either Paul Shearer or Tracy Anderson had when they each were elected County Attorney. She’s a Magna Cum Laude graduate of Augustana College. And one of her highest priorities is to use the county’s mediation ordinance to do what it takes to make local government more functional and less hostile. The ordinance gained national recognition in the 1990’s when it was enacted, but I am unaware that it has been invoked since I left office in 1997. Conflict is a reality for any community that wants to advance the quality of life of its citizens. It can be handled constructively and in ways that promote public trust or it can be played out in media lynchings that make us ashamed of ourselves, our officials, and our community. Few government officials have degrees to do the work they do. They need advisors. I would like to see what a new legal advisor with a fresh agenda can do. That Brooke would work with the Sheriff to use prisoners on community beautification projects and would promote the use of basic Spanish by our law enforcement personnel are also excellent proposals.

Greiner, the highest ranking state elected official in Washington County, said after spending several hours talking with Chesney she felt compelled to ignore party lines and reach out to speak on behalf of Brooke’s candidacy.

“It’s not a closely guarded secret that County and City government has experienced an unusual amount of dissension in recent years”, said Greiner. “Brooke’s desire to eliminate the hostility of the past and to allow prisoners in the County Jail to work outside doing community service work convinced me that I couldn’t just sit on my hands and watch this unfold.

That Chesney’s doing a write-in campaign against an incumbent at this stage in the election season takes real guts. We need more of that in government. This is one of those times when it’s important to put Principle over Politics.
The General Election is Nov. 7.

 

 

 

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Chesney runs for County Attorney in Washington County

I have written several friends today regarding the candidacy of Brooke Chesney. She is running as a “write-in” for Washington County Attorney. As promised, here are details:

Press Release

 

My name is Brooke Chesney. I am running as a write-in candidate for the office of Washington County Attorney.

 

Why I want to run for County Attorney

I love being a prosecuting attorney and I care about the citizens of Washington County. While I could be a prosecutor anywhere in the state, I have specific reasons for wanting to be the Washington County Attorney.

 

1. The job description of a prosecutor is “to seek justice.” Each day is made meaningful by working with our city and county’s law enforcement, helping victims, and trying cases.

 

2. One of the exciting discoveries I made after moving here to practice law is that this county and its cities are great places with promising futures.

 

3. One of the most disappointing discoveries I made is that there is more conflict and hostility among the local government in this county than in any place I have ever worked or lived.

 

4. It is obvious that the citizens of Washington County are “fed up” with unresolved conflicts involving school boards, county offices, and city officials.

 

5. The County Attorney is in a key position to “make a difference” to help local government officials resolve conflict. Iowa law provides that: The county attorney shall: “Give advice or a written opinion to the board and other county officers and to school and township officers, when requested by an officer, upon any matters in which the state, county, school, or township is interested…”

 

6. Not only has the present County Attorney failed to help reduce the conflict, in her dealings with the board, sheriff, and some city councils, she has been a significant contributor to the hostility.

 

7. I have initiated this “write-in” campaign because there has been too much anger and hostility in local government – enough is enough. If elected, I will use the authority of the County Attorney’s Office to promote openness and trust and constructive dialogue in government, including using the Washington County Mediation Ordinance whenever possible (something never tried by the present County Attorney).

8. Because the County Attorney is the chief law enforcement officer of the county, I would use forfeiture money recovered from criminal enterprises to fund police training for the city and the county officers. One priority would be to provide officers with the National Institute of Justice CD on conversational Spanish for Police.

9. I would review the position of the present County Attorney prohibiting the use of jail inmates to perform community service, a practice that has benefited both the prisoners and the beauty of our community for years.

 

 

Professional Background.

 

I grew up and attended public schools in Dubuque, Iowa. In 2002, I graduated magna cum laude from Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois. I completed my law school studies at Capital University Law School in Columbus, Ohio, where I was the recipient of the Presidential Merit Scholarship. I interned for the Ohio Attorney General’s Office, clerked for a judge in Franklin County (Columbus, Ohio), worked for the Cuyahoga County (Cleveland, Ohio) Prosecutor’s Office, and served on the staff of the National Center for Adoption Law & Policy. In 2005, I returned to Iowa, passed the Iowa state bar exam in July, and accepted a position as Assistant Washington County (Iowa) Attorney in September. I resigned that position effective October 3, 2006.

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