Shane Bellefy is seeking the Republican nomination to represent District 5 for a four-year term. The primary election will be held on June 4.
According to a sample ballot, Bellefy will face opponents Timothy R. Wych, Matthew Aguirre Jr., and Craig Schmidt in the GOP primary.
In a March 2024 interview with the Cherokee Chronicle Times, Bellefy said he wanted to focus on making Cherokee County an appealing place for young people through methods like housing incentives. “I believe our best assets of Cherokee County are the kids in our schools graduating every year and how we attract or retain them here with jobs or recruit them back to (the area) after college or even after they get established with their careers,” Bellefy said. “As a supervisor, I would like to press a little harder on how we could do this.”
Bellefy also said he wants to be more involved in the Cherokee County community as a politician, but does not believe in micromanaging and he prefers to make sure that the best people are in the best positions to further Cherokee County and work in the interests of residents.
Bellefy is a Vice President and Corresponding Banking Officer at United Bankers’ Bank (UBB), a position he has held since 2014, according to his bio on UBB’s website. In his capacity, he works with community banks throughout Iowa. Prior to this, he was a Vice President and Relationship Manager at Midwest Independent Bank. He also worked as Director of Business Development at van Wagenen Financial Services in Eden Prairie, Minnesota and as Business Development Manager for MLN Wholesale Division in Chicago.
In a press release, RED PAC Chief Strategist Charlie Kolean endorsed Bellefy, saying his “dedication to safeguarding private property rights and [his] commitment to fiscal prudence are exactly what our communities in Iowa need to thrive. We believe [his] leadership will not only promote transparency and accountability but also enhance economic opportunities for all citizens.”
According to the Cherokee County Board of Supervisors’ website, the Board’s responsibilities include approving bonds and reports of county officials, establishing and vacating public highways, levying county taxes, refunding erroneously assessed property taxes, and filling vacancies in county offices (other than the board of supervisors). The Board comprises five members, each representing one district, who are elected at large to four-year terms.
