DES MOINES – Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate announces the unofficial turnout for the November 2022 general election was the second highest in state history for a midterm. More than 1,220,000 Iowans voted. The all-time high for an Iowa midterm election was 1,329,930, set in 2018.

“My thanks to Iowans from every corner of the state who made their voices heard by voting,” Secretary Pate said. “I also want to thank the poll workers and county election officials across Iowa for their hard work and dedication. However, our work is not finished.”

Every county will now conduct post-election audits in randomly selected precincts to help ensure the integrity of the vote. Secretary Pate added another layer of protection to Iowa’s electoral process this year by ordering a second race to undergo hand count audits in every county. The audits will ensure the numbers match the totals reported by the ballot tabulators. The gubernatorial race and constitutional amendment ballot measure will be audited.

“Post-election audits add another layer of integrity to the election process,” Secretary Pate said. “I want all Iowans to know their vote counts, and it will be counted correctly.”

All election results remain unofficial until canvassing is complete, and results are certified. The deadline is December 5.

Unofficial totals are available at sos.iowa.gov.

It looks like Republicans Adrian Dickey and Jeff Shipley will return to Des Moines in January.  Dickey has previously served in the Senate.  He will return to represent Senate District 44.  He came out ahead of his challenger, Rich Taylor who also brought experience as an Iowa Senator to the race. Dickey received 66.49% of the vote. That’s 15,311 votes from a district that encompasses Van Buren, Jefferson, and Keokuk Counties and portions of Mahaska and Henry Counties. 7,695 voters cast their ballots for Rich Taylor. That’s 33.42% of the vote.

Democrat Mike Heaton ran in his first campaign but came up short against Republican Jeff Shipley.  Shipley previously served in the Iowa House of Representatives but not representing this exact district, now identified as House District 87. This district, as a result of re-districting covers Van Buren, Jefferson and a portion of Henry County. Shipley garnered 6,437 votes, that’s 55.46%. Heaton received 5,151 votes, 44.38%.

Incumbent Mindy Fitzgibbon lost her bid to keep her job as Henry County Recorder to newcomer Lynnae Buffington. Buffington received 4,183 votes and Fitzgibbon received 2,534 votes.

Henry County saw almost 50% voter turnout.  There are 14,113 register voters. 7, 025 cast votes in these midterm elections.  Of that number 2,845 people voted absentee or early.

On November 4, 2022, at approximately 2:26AM, the Henry County Sheriff’s Office was notified via 911 of a barn on fire at 1584 335th Street, Salem, Iowa. The Salem Fire Department, along with other fire departments responded to assist, as the fire spread to fields nearby.

At approximately 7:44AM, (November 4, 2022), the Henry County Sheriff’s Office was notified of a rekindling at the fire scene and the Salem Fire Department responded again.

The fire was reported as suspicious and the Henry County Sheriff’s Office, along with the Iowa State Fire Marshall’s Office subsequently investigated.

As a result of the investigation, James Cleere, 18 of Salem, Iowa, was arrested and charged with Arson 2^nd (class C felony).

Mount Pleasant Police released the details of a single vehicle crash that occurred November 4.  Police were called to the 800 block of South Jefferson Street where a van had gone off the roadway.  When officers arrived on the scene that found the van in the ditch with a light pole on top of it and the driver unresponsive.  The driver was identified as Adam Heckenberg.  It was believed he experienced a medical episode that caused him to black out while negotiating a curve in the street.  The van hit a light pole when it went off street. This brought down a power line. Heckenberg was taken by ambulance to Henry County Health Center.

In the interest of keeping Henry County residents informed, the Henry County Sheriff’s office has requested KILJ post the daily jail count. During the jail referendum campaign it was publicized that the jail would be able to house additional inmates from surrounding counties and this would generate revenue for Henry County.

Date:   11-08-2022______

  21_   Henry County Inmates

  55_    Out of County Contract Inmates              

 76      TOTAL