Effective Leader and Consensus Builder

Shirley works with neighbors of every political persuasion to get things done. She recognizes what we need, is able to identify and build on what we have in common, and help us come to solid, reasonable solutions to problems together. Shirley has the unique ability to turn obstacles into opportunities, to help everyone in our community.

Strong Local Control Advocate

Shirley’s vision is for a Winneshiek County that is civil and collaborative. A county where we work together and see our diversity and differences as a strength. She’s long been a strong proponent of local control of policies and regulations in Winneshiek County and is at the front of the line working for us to control what effects us most.

Committed to Community

As a current Winneshiek County Supervisor, Shirley serves on various regional boards including: Iowa RC&D, Upper Explorerland Regional Planning, Northeast Iowa Community Action Corporation, Northeast Iowa Rural Housing Trust Fund, Northeast Iowa Behavioral Health, Winn. County Opioid Settlement Task Force, the county’s safety committee, and represents Winn. County in collective bargaining negotiations with the three unions represented in Winneshiek County.

Most recently Shirley spent many hours with the Freeport community to be sure they had all the correct information related to a land sale of county-owned property in their neighborhood planted in prairis grasses for flood mitigation measures after the devastating 2016 flooding event. She was one of two supervisors to attend the January neighborhood meeting in Freeport, to listen to their personal testimonies and concerns.

Shirley has volunteered over the last two decades working as the PTO President for Decorah Schools, voter registration, on the Decorah Park Board, Winneshiek County Habitat for Humanity, and working to get a dog park in Decorah, among other things.



During the COVID pandemic Shirley facilitated the Seamster Union of Winneshiek County, a group of 183 area volunteers who created over 34,000 face masks and over 361 PPE gowns for county hospitals, nursing homes, businesses and organizations.