IRON COUNTY’S TRUMP CULT: A THREAT TO OUR DEMOCRACY

Warning signs have gone up across the whole political spectrum that members of anti-democracy Trump cult are trying to take over the county boards, town and city councils and school boards. And it is happening right here at home in our own Iron County. (Read following article.)

We already have two members of the Trump cult, John Sendra and Tanner Hiller, on the Iron County board of supervisors and they are running for re-election unopposed in this April’s election. Now a third Trump cult member, Henry Joustra, wants to join them. The inept Joustra is seeking to unseat Opal Roberts who has a stellar record as a county board supervisor and as a member of the Mercer town board.

Three positions are up for election to the Mercer school board with five people running. Incumbents Jim Hannemann and Steve Botes are well qualified and have done an exemplary job in helping return the school to normalcy after the disastrous Eric Torkelson reign of mismanagement.  A newcomer deserving to be elected to the school board is Zach Wilson. Wilson has volunteered his services to the school and has done considered community service.   

Tanner Hiller, who owns no property in Iron County, is unemployed and lives in his parent’s basement, is also seeking election to the Mercer school board.  Hiller was an avid supporter of the former corrupt and since removed school board which allowed the administrator to misuse thousands of school tax dollars. The former administrator is also now out of a job.

Regrettably, nothing can be done to keep Sendra, who has an abrasive disposition and lacks empathy, off the Iron County board of supervisors since he is unopposed.  He and Joustra, who is president of the Mercer Chamber of Commerce, combined forces last year to expose hundreds of people to the Covid virus by forging ahead with Mercer Loon Day despite strong advice not to by health authorities.  Sendra would benefit financially (he manages a bar/restaurant actually owned by his investment banker son-in-law), so the dollar won OUT over common sense and Loon Day went ahead.

You will also recall that Sendra acted as the “hired gun” for coal mining billionaire Chris Klein in promoting the Gogebic taconite mining scam. The scam eventually collapsed under the weight of the falsehoods used to promote it.

So, the threat in Iron County is real – three Trump cult members attempting to hold or take over position on the county, town, and school boards. We cannot prevent Trump cult members Sendra and Hiller from being re-elected to the county board, but we should keep Joustra off the county board and Hiller from being elected to the Mercer school board.