Al Winters lost a Mitchell County Supervisor election in 2018 by single digits. Winters, a Republican, is running again in 2020.
And on Monday, his campaign’s Facebook page shared documents obtained through Iowa’s Open Records laws showing current supervisor, Stan Walk, threatening the Iowa Property Assessment Appeal Board.
The documents show that Walk, President and stockholder of Xxodus Corporation, owns a parcel of property in a development south of St. Ansgar. Walk appealed the assessment value increase to the Mitchell County Board of Review in May of 2019. The county board of review ruled the new valuation would remain.
Walk then appealed to the Iowa Property Assessment Appeal Board in Des Moines. Earlier this year, the board affirmed Mitchell County’s review and upheld the new assessment valuation.
“It would appear that Walk the taxpayer doesn’t like how Walk the supervisor raised his taxes,” the Facebook post said.
Walk is also one of three Mitchell County Supervisors. Walk sent a letter to the Iowa Property Assessment Appeal Board after it rendered a decision against him.
“You three clowns on this board are a disgrace to the legal system,” it starts. “You folks just do not want to be ‘bothered’ by little claims, even when you know these claims are valid. You consider little people like us are just a pain in your fat asses!”
The letter continued.
“You folks do not want to be bothered by us little people who are getting screwed. I will guarantee you if I was a close relative of the Governor, your reply would have been altogether different.
“I am a big believer in what goes around comes around. Remember this day, do not forget it. I am going to ask God for justice, KARMA, not just for me but for all the little people you screw over. Ask and it shall be given and don’t think I won’t continue asking God for justice from you three.”
He then referenced a rift he had with former Iowa Supreme Court Justice Mark Cady.
“Cady did not mind screwing over the little guy, the hardworking man who cannot afford to hire high-priced attorneys, and yet we seek justice,” Walk wrote. “You see what happened to Cady.”
The Winters for Mitchell County Supervisor Facebook page pointed out the total tax on the parcel Walk appealed is around $130 per year.
“Not so amusing, however, are the threats leveled against the members of the Property Assessment Appeal Board in Des Moines,” the post said.
Josh Byrnes, former state representative, shared the post from the Winters Facebook page.
“This is absolutely embarrassing and uncalled for from one of our elected officials,” Byrnes wrote. “I knew Justice Cady well and he died on Nov. 15, 2019, at age 66 from a sudden heart attack. He was a good man and truly cared about our judicial system. For my county supervisor to make reference to his death as deserving via Karma is absolutely disgusting. I wonder how his widowed wife, daughter and son would feel about these comments?
“It is time for the citizens of Mitchell County to say enough is enough. This is embarrassing. This is not the representation we want for Mitchell County in Des Moines. How in the world can we trust the decisions he makes for this county and the people who live here?”
