Candidate Kimberly Graham had big, bold ideas for changes she planned to make within the office of Polk County Attorney she pursued.
Graham was elected in 2022, so she’s had time to settle into the job after succeeding her predecessor John Sarcone, who held the office for over three decades.
How’s it going?
What I appreciate about our Potluck podcasts is that we have one hour to ask questions and follow up with our guests. Unlike a television or radio interview spliced together into one-minute segments, we can have a real unedited conversation.
Readers who join the call are welcome to ask questions, too.
Graham, a Democrat, broke a bit of news in our call today, so be sure to listen and or read the transcript.
Retired Des Moines Register columnist Rekha Basu, who wrote extensively about issues related to local government as an opinion columnist, was the first on our call to ask County Attorney Graham questions. She had several.
Also joining us was retired District Court Judge Artis Reis and others who have followed Graham for some time.
The unedited transcript is included here.
One quick note, when I asked Graham if she’d consider challenging the Iowa Attorney General, I commented that after all, didn’t the current AG Brenna Bird get her start as Guthrie County Attorney?
clarified in the Zoom chat, that Bird first held the county attorney position in Fremont County before assuming the role in Guthrie County.Graham ran unsuccessfully statewide in a democratic party U.S. Senate primary. Would she consider challenging the current Iowa Attorney General, Brenna Bird?
”Not no, but H-E double toothpicks, no,” she answered. I believe that means HELL NO.
Listen to the podcast. Graham is one to watch, and I appreciate her willingness to talk to us at length about her goals, progress, and her vision for the office. She was candid about party politics and willing to tackle questions posed. This is refreshing and informative.
Graham is pursuing innovative ideas such as making fines more in line with an ability to pay, in other words, the more you make, the higher the fine.
“A $1,000 fine for Bill Gatres is not meaningful, right?” posed Graham. For those who are poor, it can be devasting and put someone in a hole they can’t dig out of.
To join our Monday Zoom lunch chats, simply subscribe to this column (it’s free) and you will receive a link to the call. The time flies. We have an engaged, smart audience, and I conduct the hour more like a dinner party than a slick interview. Try it out. You do not have to be a paid subscriber to join the conversation. Join us.
If you have a guest to suggest, drop me a note:
Next week, our guest is Dr. Richard Demming, of the Richard Deming Cancer Center. He’s a physician, and some call him a superhero. He’s a philanthropist and impacts lives in immeasurable ways.
Okoboji Countdown!
39 seats are remaining for the Okoboji Writers’ and Songwriters’ Retreat, to be held September 22-25.
I am thrilled to be a founding member of the Iowa Writers’ Collaborative.
What is the Iowa Writers’ Collaborative?
Check out the IWC Sunday Roundup
There are now over 50 members of the Iowa Writers’ Collaborative from around the state, and one is reporting from Washington, D.C. Each is an independent columnist who shares two things in common: they have made a living as writers, and they are interested in the state of Iowa. We also have a Letters From Iowans section to highlight commentary by others.
Some digital news and information sites are nonprofit organizations funded by donors and grants. Others accept advertising, but this funding source can vanish, leaving writers and readers adrift.
The Iowa Writers’ Collaborative is an unusual and forward-thinking business model that seems to be working, based on two years of proving the concept. Readers are not required to pay to read our work, but those who do - about 10% on average - fund the mission.
Paid subscribers to the Iowa Writers’ Collaborative Roundup support group efforts, such as paying for gatherings to learn best practices, an annual holiday party for paid subscribers, and other means of supporting our members. Thanks to your support, we are taking a one-year training course with an expert in Substack tools. The goal is to help us serve you better.
If you want to help beyond the paid subscription service, you can donate with this link:
Polk County Attorney Kimberly Graham