WINTERSET, Iowa — A legal battle has emerged in Madison County as the chairwoman of the county supervisors, Heather Stancil, has initiated a lawsuit against Sheriff Jason Barnes. The conflict arises amid an investigation linked to Stancil’s remarks on Facebook, which have sparked allegations of election misconduct and voter intimidation.
The lawsuit claims that Barnes acted outside legal protocols established in Iowa law. According to the complaint, the sheriff was supposed to investigate allegations of election misconduct only under the guidance of the attorney general, rather than independently. Furthermore, any reports stemming from such investigations are required to remain confidential, according to the law.
The controversy was triggered by a Stancil Facebook post that responded to a petition regarding filling the vacant county auditor position through a special election. In her comments, Stancil indicated that should a special election be necessary, she would seek ways to mitigate the financial impact on taxpayers, proposing to “shrink government” in response to the added costs.
In response to the developing situation, the Madison County Sheriff’s Office confirmed it is aware of the statement made by Stancil and has submitted both the online statement and an initial investigation to the Iowa Attorney General’s office for further review.
While Stancil’s attorney has refrained from making any public statements beyond the filing, efforts to reach Barnes for a comment have also yielded no response.
This situation highlights the complexities surrounding election procedures and the responsibilities of local officials in Iowa. As the investigation continues, residents of Madison County will be closely monitoring the developments amid concerns about election integrity and governance.
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