Morgan tearfully, passionately exits board of supervisors
By CHAD DRURY – Ottumwa Courier, Iowa (TNS)
OTTUMWA — The last meeting was already going to be difficult for Brian Morgan.
Then his wife and three kids walked into the Wapello County Courthouse courtroom single file, and took a seat in the back of the room.
Morgan chaired his final meeting of the board of supervisors Thursday, gave an impassioned speech about what lies ahead for the now all-Republican board that is out of its control, and later reflected on his two terms in office.
He did so by getting misty-eyed as he talked about his family’s sacrifices for his political career, but also what’s next for himself after essentially 15 years in city and county politics.
“There’s a lot of times when you’re at home, and you’re still not at home,” Morgan said, voice cracking. “But we’ve done some really good things up here and I feel I’ve done them for all the right reasons. I appreciate the citizens of Wapello County, the citizens of Ottumwa to put me on this path 15 years ago.
“There’s so many times where you say you’ve seen it all, and then you haven’t. I think it’s the right time for me to move on.”
Processing the loss
When Morgan lost by more than 1,000 votes to Republican Carrie Teninty in November’s general election, it wasn’t a complete surprise to him. He acknowledged he didn’t do as well in the city precincts, which allowed Teninty to run up the votes in the rural areas.
When it was over, he lost to Teninty by just over 7 percentage points, but he said the groundwork was laid long before.
“It’s one of those things that I saw coming. I go back to 2016 and I won by 200-some votes, and won by running uncontested in 2020,” he said in his office following the meeting. “Wapello County had always just been a blue county. If you were a Democrat, you weren’t even worried.
“But when (Donald) Trump came along, you could see the change in those union workers that had voted Democratic, their dad voted Democratic, grandpa voted Democratic. But the Democratic Party has lost that. I always put this race at 50-50.”
Morgan believed he needed support from more than the 3,000 Trump voters to beat Teninty, and acknowledged “that was a tall task.”
“But I couldn’t overcome the discontent with the Democratic Party,” he said.
Moving on
Morgan’s loss, while stinging to him, also comes at a difficult time for counties in the state in general. They are facing budget crunches because of legislation at the state level, and more is coming, he assured his fellow supervisors.
“This board is going to have some challenges next month, and there’s nothing you can do about it until the state gets their s— together and starts listening to local authorities in cities and counties,” he said in his final remarks of the meeting. “We were in a meeting a while back and a state representative made a comment about discretionary funds, and I about lost it. I about came out of my chair, because there is no such thing.
“Our discretionary funds were ARPA funds, and somewhat our local option sales tax funds,” Morgan said. “We gave some nice raises and did some things to help our employees, but the chickens are coming home to roost. I feel for you guys because no decision you make is going to be the right decision.”
However, Morgan isn’t just riding off into retirement. The 45-year-old will put more time into his business, Morgan’s Corner Bar and Grill, and will be the father and husband he couldn’t be because of his time in politics. He also will usher in a new era in a couple of months when the Southeast Iowa Sports Center opens its doors, as he was one of the prominent leaders to get the project over the finish line.
“In 2009 when I ran (for city council), you were 4, 2 and 1,” Morgan said, pointing to his children, two of whom are now in high school and one in college. “And I said that I do this for them.
“I’m excited about what my future holds with some things. I may even try to run a bar again. I was pretty good at that for a while and I liked it,” he said. “I look forward to working with a lot of you in all in different phases and different projects around our area.”
He even shared an embrace with Teninty, offering his support and advice anytime it’s wanted.
“I think that’s just being a good citizen,” he said. “Her success is our success. It’s not as magnified on a local level, but we need growth. We really need to start looking to the future.”
The ups and downs
There were many things Morgan was pleased with over his two terms, in which a pandemic occurred right between them. The indoor sports complex is the highlight, even though he said “I don’t benefit a dime from it.”
“But if it helps other businesses, we did our job,” he said.
He also was proud of the county’s investment in rural broadband internet, which is connecting almost 90% of residents to date. Also, the county’s ability to improve the salaries of county employees, which while difficult on the budget was one of the hallmarks of his terms.
He also was proud of the board’s ability to secure funding to essentially triple the size of the Pioneer Ridge Nature Center campground.
However, he regrets not getting involved in the Dusty Fox Wind project sooner and being more proactive with that.
“I wish we would have really hit that harder before,” he said. “And I say that from the personal side. I wish I’d involved myself with that more.”
He said plans are underway to pave 120th Avenue near the 4-H grounds, but he won’t be there to see it through. He said ARPA interest money will cover 75% of that project.
“That’s something I hope the next board looks at. We own property out there and there’s possible development,” Morgan said. “So to asphalt that would make a hell of a difference to a few houses out there, to the 4-H and just that investment in our rural and ag community.”
Future forays for office
It would seem Morgan could re-enter politics anytime. He’s still young enough to do it, but he insists he’s not going anywhere whether or not he runs in the future. However, he said things have to change at the state level for him to re-enter the fray.
“I’m going to take a nice, long break (from politics),” he said. “I won’t count anything out, but people ask me if I’m going to run again in two years, and I don’t see that happening right now.
“Some attitudes have to change at the state level, because the cities and counties aren’t the enemy. We’ve all changed in the last five years, and people aren’t nice anymore. Even I felt myself being more callous.”
But he requested the other supervisors be present in the community, not just at the various boards and commissions they will sit on.
“They need to get involved in things other than just what our duties are,” he said. “With me, I’ve been on the Oktoberfest committee for 10-plus years, I volunteer with the Elks.
“I would just say make yourself available and be part of some things countywide and in Ottumwa to get yourself out there. To make people see who you really are.”
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