Meet the Candidates

J.D. Scholten was born in Iowa and raised in Sioux City, graduating high school here and attending Morningside College, where he played college baseball for his father who was the Head Coach. J.D. transferred for his Senior year to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln where he led the Cornhuskers in earned run average on the College World Series bound team. After graduating, J.D. played professionally for the Sioux City Explorers and in seven countries— including the U.S., Canada, Belgium, Germany, France, the Netherlands, and Cuba. After retiring from baseball, J.D. worked as a paralegal.

In 2018, J.D. ran for Congress in Iowa’s Fourth Congressional District. He ran a creative, grassroots campaign that drew national attention for demonstrating how Democrats can compete in rural areas. In 2020, he ran again and took the campaign RV to all 374 towns in the district and was one of the few non-incumbent Democratic candidates to outperform the top of the ticket. J.D. is committed to fighting for areas that get left behind and wants to take that fight to the Iowa House. 

Jessica Lopez-Walker (Ahugishiniwiga) is a member of the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska with roots in Iowa. Jessica has lived in Sioux City for over 20 years, has worked at Fedex for five years and is also a small  business owner. She is currently co-chair of the native PAC for Sioux City Community Schools and co-facilitator on the Memorial March for Missing & Murdered Indigenous Children. Additionally, she is a board member for SHIP (Siouxland Human Investment Partnership). She and her husband have been foster parents for eight years and are the proud parents of five children. They also serve as a recruiting family for native foster families.

Jessica is aware of and affected by the same policies as many in Iowa House District 2 and is ready to work to improve the lives of her constituents.

Rosanne Plante is an award-winning attorney with 29 years of experience, a mediator, volunteer lobbyist, and former college professor.  She devotes her time and talents to numerous professional and charitable organizations throughout Iowa and the United States. 

Rosanne would be such a great asset to serve Iowa District 13 as a representative. 
Rosanne continues to shine and advocate for so many people in our community. Whether it’s in the roles of legal counsel, or as a volunteer or involved citizen, she applies herself to support and serve others that need her professional attributes.
Loaded with so many interpersonal skills and experiences, she will be such a valuable asset as one of our House District representatives.

Deb Poss

Development Director/Holy Spirit Retirement Home

Pat has nearly 30 years of public service as the Woodbury County Auditor, Recorder, and Commissioner of Elections. His expertise, leadership, and steadfast commitment to transparency and election integrity is critical in a time when there have been unprecedented attacks on elections. Pat’s priority is the people of Woodbury County, and he promises to continue performing the duties of this office in a fair and non-partisan manner.

John Herrig is an outstanding candidate to represent Woodbury County because of his commitment to accountability and community engagement. With extensive experience in leadership roles and a proven ability to negotiate effectively, Herrig brings valuable skills to the table. By voting for John Herrig, you're choosing a leader who prioritizes the needs of the community and has a track record of getting things done.

Lincoln Ryan, a dedicated community member looks to improve the foundation of Woodbury County. As a Democratic nominee for Woodbury County Board of Supervisors, Lincoln is ready to serve the county with the same honor, courage and commitment he’s displayed through his enlistment as a Navy Seabee. He hopes to use his experience in project and facilities management to bring some much needed oversight to the infrastructure of the County. Lincoln looks forward to working with others to actively engage the County to improve the quality for all citizens while maintaining their trust and respect.

Brian McNaughton is a lifelong resident with family roots in Woodbury County who understands the need for a balanced approach between metro and rural economic development. He is an educated, fair, trustworthy entrepreneur of 45 years and has been active in supporting local initiatives for years, serving on boards for organizations like 4H, Lawton City Council, Vangarde Arts and KWIT Radio.

Brian has previously served two five-year terms as a member of the Woodbury County Board of Adjustment and negotiated workable solutions for all parties.  Those experiences have provided a solid training ground for the county board of supervisors’ position.

As your Supervisor, Brian will focus on the rural part of the county, jobs and quality of life to achieve overall economic balance for Woodbury County. Brian will work toward expanding opportunities for economic development to support communities throughout the county and preserve local control of emergency services as well as continue to partner with existing businesses to create additional funding that can be allocated to upgrade rural roadways.