SIOUX CITY — A ceremony Tuesday marked the start of Republicans holding every elected office in Woodbury County government. Five newly-elected county employees were sworn in Tuesday. They officially started their four-year terms Thursday, the first day of the new year.
Michelle Skaff was sworn into the position of Woodbury County Auditor and Recorder, becoming the first Republican auditor in 28 years. Mark Nelson, David Dietrich and Kent Carper, who won contested supervisor races in November, and Sheriff Chad Sheehan, who ran unopposed for another term, also took their oaths of office at the county courthouse. Woodbury County officials swearing-in Michelle Skaff, newly-elected Woodbury County Auditor/Recorder, is sworn into office by District Court Chief Judge Patrick Tott during ceremonies at the Woodbury Courthouse Tuesday, Dec.
31, 2024. The newly-elected officials will begin their terms in office after the first of the year. Skaff stood with Judge Patrick Tott during the ceremony Tuesday morning at the county courthouse.
The basement board room was full of family members, friends, staff and supporters witnessing those taking the oaths of office. Skaff, the county's deputy auditor for the past eight years, ousted longtime Auditor Pat Gill. A seven-term incumbent, Gill was the last Democrat to hold elected office in the county.
Skaff is believed to be the first female auditor in Woodbury County and the fourth female elected in any post in the county. "I believe it will be a very smooth transition," Skaff said. "I've met with all the staff already.
We're going to have one-on-one meetings after I take office on the second and everybody's very welcoming of me in the position." Skaff, who was making her first run for elected office, has worked in Woodbury County for 28 years, serving in a variety of roles, including a 911 operator at two agencies, director of a law enforcement intelligence network and county Emergency Management Coordinator. On the campaign trail, Skaff said she had been hearing from the community that was looking for a change in the office.
"I love where I work and I just want to serve the community in a higher capacity, and I think that I can do that in the role of the auditor, running the entire office, as opposed to just one-third of it," Skaff told The Journal in October. Woodbury County officials swearing-in Mark Nelson, incumbent Woodbury County Supervisor, is sworn into office by District Court Chief Judge Patrick Tott during ceremonies at the Woodbury Courthouse Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024.
Incumbent Mark Nelson and newcomers David Dietrich and Kent Carper were sworn into the board of supervisors on Tuesday as well. The trio will join Republicans Matthew Ung and Dan Buttinger on the board. While Nelson was the incumbent for his seat, this was the first time he had been elected to the county board.
In January 2023, Nelson was selected to serve the remaining two years of Rocky De Witt's term who resigned after being elected to the Iowa Senate in 2022. "The last year and a half I was not elected by the people, so I worked my tail off, and I wanted to be back, so I felt that the election was a great result of that," Nelson said Tuesday. Nelson has been serving as the board of supervisors appointee on the Woodbury County Law Enforcement Center Authority, the joint city-county board overseeing the new jail.
During the campaign trail, Nelson stressed his focus on holding the parties responsible for the delays and damages to the jail project accountable. "I want to hold these parties accountable for the jail ..
. because this has just been an awful experience for Woodbury County and for the taxpayers," Nelson said. Woodbury County officials swearing-in Kent Carper, newly-elected Woodbury County Supervisor, is sworn into office by District Court Chief Judge Patrick Tott during ceremonies at the Woodbury Courthouse Tuesday, Dec.
31, 2024. The newly-elected officials will begin their terms in office after the first of the year. Carper will replace Keith Radig, who unsuccessfully ran for county auditor, rather than seek reelection.
Carper served in the Army National Guard for 16 years. He has been a nurse for 32 years and a pastor for 14 years. Carper ran on helping farmers, and veterans and balancing the budget.
He also said he has ideas for alternative energy sources for Woodbury County. Carper on Tuesday shared two of his ideas for alternative energy sources including hydroelectric power and solar power. "Everybody's talking about windmills, and I think we've got a large water source right here.
" Carper said Tuesday. "I don't want windmills in Woodbury County because I think we'll lose too much productive farmland in our county." Woodbury County officials swearing-in David Dietrich, newly-elected Woodbury County Supervisor, is sworn into office by District Court Chief Judge Patrick Tott during ceremonies at the Woodbury Courthouse Tuesday, Dec.
31, 2024. The newly-elected officials will begin their terms in office after the first of the year. Dietrich, a Hornick native, will replace Jeremy Taylor, who opted not to run for reelection.
Taylor's wife, Kim, was found guilty of 52 counts of voter fraud in federal court in November 2023. Dietrich served for 32 years at the 185th Air Refueling Wing as a mechanic. Dietrich ran on being fiscally conservative with the budget, ensuring law enforcement and emergency services are equipped and maintaining county roads.
"I'm just looking forward to getting into the seat and being here," Dietrich said Tuesday. "I just want to be fiscally conservative and representing everyone from Woodbury County." Woodbury County officials swearing-in Chad Sheehan, incumbent Woodbury County Sheriff, is sworn into office by District Court Chief Judge Patrick Tott during ceremonies at the Woodbury Courthouse Tuesday, Dec.
31, 2024. Sheriff Chad Sheehan was sworn into his second term as Woodbury County Sheriff. He was unposed.
"It's an honor to be elected a second time," Sheehan said. "That the voters, the citizens of Woodbury County, would entrust me to lead a great organization." Over Sheehan's term as sheriff, one of the hottest topics was the construction of the new Woodbury County Law Enforcement Center.
Now that the center is officially open, Sheehan said they are looking forward to smooth operations in the future. "Anytime you move into a new building, of course, there's some little mechanical issues and different things like that, but as far as our operations, everything's going smooth," he said. Over the next four years, Sheehan said his main priorities are staff training and school safety.
First felony case hearing in new Woodbury County Law Enforcement Center District Judge Patrick Tott conducts the first felony hearing Monday in the new Woodbury County Law Enforcement Center. (c)2025 Sioux City Journal, Iowa Visit Sioux City Journal, Iowa at www.siouxcityjournal.
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Michelle Skaff, other newly elected Woodbury County Supervisors take office
SIOUX CITY — A ceremony Tuesday marked the start of Republicans holding every elected office in Woodbury County government.