Miller sees Jefferson from high above

By DOUGLAS BURNS
d.burns@carrollspaper.com

Deb McGinn, an active economic and community leader, led Attorney General Tom Miller’s recent bell tower visual tour of the City of Jefferson, showing the long-time elected official key points of interest, notably the rooftop paintings, a distinct feature in the region.

“It’s the largest outdoor art gallery - of it’s kind - in the United States,” McGinn said. “It’s because of the tower here.”

McGinn was among about a dozen leaders in Greene County who met with Miller last Wednesday. The attorney general also visited Carroll where he toured Des Moines Area Community College and met with area law enforcement officials.
During a session at Home State Bank, led by the president there, Sid Jones, who is also the president of the Greene County Development Corporation, Miller learned about the progress largely catalyzed by the arrival of Wild Rose Casino and Resort — but with a lot of pluck and sweat equity from others in the county.

“This county is really blessed,” Jones said.
Added Jefferson City Administrator Michael Palmer, “We must be doing things right for people to want to stay.”
Palmer said Jefferson is populated with people who have big ideas.

“I just plan on staying here,” Palmer said. “It’s a great town to be in.”

McGinn, who is also secretary of Why Not Us, a women’s organization aiming to boost the fortunes of the Jefferson area, discussed the 67 women who donated for the opening of the now-popular Centennial restaurant, on the town square.
The restaurant, with what McGinn described as “historic charm and contemportary taste,” is doing exceedingly well, she said.

“It’s really women helping women,” she said.

Chuck Offenburger, one of the forces behind Nueva En Vida in Greene County (new life in Greene County), said the effort to attract and retain Latino talent, led by Latino IQ, is a game changer in the county.

“It’s a huge program,” Offenburger said. “It’s going to be one of the bigger things that’s ever happened here.”
Miller faces re-election Nov. 8. He is being challenged in the attorney general’s race by Republican Guthrie County Attorney Brenna Bird.

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