By John Forbes is a former state representative and candidate for Polk County Board of Supervisors
Polk County belongs to all of us. That’s the idea at the heart of Heather Jones-Brown’s campaign for Supervisor in District 4, and it’s why I’m proud to support her.
As a fellow candidate for the Board of Supervisors, I’ve spent this campaign thinking hard about what it takes to do this job well. The county decides things that touch every family’s life: the water we drink, the roads we drive, the mental health services our neighbors depend on. Those decisions deserve leaders who listen first. Heather is that kind of leader.
Heather is rooted in the community she wants to serve. She grew up on Des Moines’ Eastside and in Pleasant Hill, graduated from East High, and currently lives with her husband on the Southeast side. She comes from a family of firefighters, Marines, PTA volunteers and union members, people who taught her to show up and take responsibility for her neighbors. Volunteers in District 4 will tell you Heather “always shows up,” and her campaign is a continuation of that record, not a false promise.
What I admire most is that Heather doesn’t pretend to have every answer. Her career has been about helping people find their way through systems that feel complicated or out of reach. She has worked across departments, built partnerships and balanced competing priorities to get lasting results. That’s exactly the skill set county government needs, because good leadership means asking thoughtful questions, learning from the people closest to work and staying connected to the community you serve.
She’s also putting her commitment into practice. Heather will serve as a full-time supervisor, leaving her private-sector job to do it. She plans to hold regular office hours at libraries, community centers, and coffee shops across the district, and to help residents learn about county services they may not know exist. In Heather’s view, you shouldn’t need to know the right people to be heard by your county government, and I agree.
Heather Jones-Brown (center) with West Des Moines City Council member Fannette Elliott and John Forbes
Heather’s priorities are the ones I hear about from families every day. Too many people only get mental health care once they’re already in crisis, so Heather wants better coordination between agencies and earlier intervention that connects residents to help before things escalate. She understands that mental health shapes housing stability, public safety, schools and workplaces, and that it deserves long-term thinking rather than short-term reactions.
She knows our health starts with quality drinking water. Heather will bring residents, farmers and businesses to the same table to protect the water we drink and the lakes and rivers where we swim, boat and fish. She backs proactive planning on flood mitigation, conservation and infrastructure, so Polk County prepares for the challenges ahead instead of paying for crises after they hit.
And she knows how hard it is to get ahead right now. With groceries, gas and housing all costing more, Heather believes public dollars should create public benefit. If the county offers tax incentives, they should help working families, strengthen neighborhoods and open the door to homeownership, not simply making it cheaper for large corporations to do business. She supports more affordable housing across the county, prevailing wages and workers’ right to organize. She also sees reliable transportation as essential infrastructure that connects people to jobs, health care, childcare and the grocery store, and she’ll keep working with regional partners so our growing county stays connected for everyone.
The Board of Supervisors works best when its members listen to residents and work together on their behalf. I want Heather at that table with me. She is steady, thoughtful and grounded in the real experiences of Polk County families. I hope you’ll join me in voting for Heather Jones-Brown for Supervisor in District 4, and that you’ll talk to your neighbors, volunteer if you can, and make a plan to vote.
Editor’s note: Bleeding Heartland welcomes guest commentaries by any Democratic candidate running for office in 2026, or by their supporters. Please read these guidelines and contact Laura Belin if you are interested in writing.