# The Madison Report > Shining a light on local government. ## Posts - [Swanson Arrested in Texas in 2020; Misdemeanor Not Disclosed](https://themadisonreport.com/news/2026/01/swanson-arrested-2020): Documents recently provided to The Madison Report show a discrepancy between Madison County Attorney Stephen Swanson’s 2024 application for appointment as County Attorney and Texas court records related to a prior misdemeanor conviction. According to Arlington, Texas Police Department records, in December 2020, Swanson—who was living in Ankeny, Iowa at the time—was arrested following an altercation at Texas Live!, an entertainment and dining complex in Arlington, Texas. Texas Live! is located next to AT&T Stadium, where Iowa State University played in the Big 12 Championship earlier that day. Shortly before 8:00 p.m. on December 19, 2020, officers responded to a […] - [Madison County Celebrates 180 Years: A look back at its history](https://themadisonreport.com/news/2026/01/madison-county-180-years): On Tuesday, Madison County, Iowa, marks the 180th anniversary of its establishment by the Iowa Territorial Legislature. The Madison Report reflects on a county history shaped by hardship, ingenuity, and persistence. Madison County was established on January 13, 1846, by the Iowa Territorial Legislature—nearly a year before Iowa was admitted to the Union on December 28, 1846. Named for James Madison, the fourth President of the United States and a principal author of the Constitution, the county was formed when the region remained largely undeveloped prairie and timberland, with few roads and limited infrastructure. Early Settlers Settlement in the 1840s […] - [Early Look at Madison County’s 2026 Primary Races](https://themadisonreport.com/news/2026/01/county-2026-primary): Madison County, Iowa, has eight elected county offices, five of which will be on the ballot in 2026. Those include the Treasurer, Attorney, Recorder and two Supervisors (Districts 1 and 3). The offices are currently held by The Madison Report asked each of the five elected officials if they plan on running in 2026 for their respective offices and if they have a statement they’d like to share with Madison County voters. Macumber and Barber confirmed that they will run in the GOP primary. Stancil stated that she will not seek re-election due to family health issues however she said […] - [2026 Madison County Supervisors Organizational Meeting Held](https://themadisonreport.com/news/2026/01/2026-organizational-meeting): The Madison County Board of Supervisors held their annual organizational meeting on Friday, January 2, 2026. At the beginning of the calendar year, each County Board of Supervisors in Iowa are required by Iowa Code to hold an organizational meeting. It serves as the legal reset for how the Board will function during the coming year. Included in Friday’s meeting were: The board was, for the most part, in agreement on the division of labor and few changes were made from the 2025 assignments. Also discussed at this meeting was a resolution to approve a contract for the purchase of […] - [December 8, 2025 Madison County Compensation Meeting](https://themadisonreport.com/videos/2025/12/bos-meeting-12-08-2025) - [Dec 3 2025 Budget Amendment Work Session](https://themadisonreport.com/videos/2025/12/bos-meeting-12-03-2025-budget) - [From Walking Tacos to Attempted Takeovers:  The Power Struggle Affecting Republicans in Madison County](https://themadisonreport.com/opinion/2025/12/from-walking-tacos-to-attempted-takeovers): While our December 1 article focused on elected officials, this one dives into the issues surrounding the local Madison County Republican Central Committee (MCRCC). Many local Republicans have asked how the MCRCC has come to the point of multiple takeover attempts, social media attacks, and even apparent threats by a disgruntled former committee member against the Committee Chair. This article provides a history of how the Committee has shifted over the past few years. While this may appear to be an internal dispute, it reflects a deeper conflict in motivations and principles that has since spilled into the public square […] - [When Local Politics Boil Over: Madison County's Fight for the Auditor's Office](https://themadisonreport.com/opinion/2025/12/when-local-politics-boil-over): Contents 1. Introduction Madison County has been in political turmoil for months. While the tensions have been brewing for years, they ramped up in 2025 and reached a boiling point this past summer. What follows is a retrospective look at what unfolded, not as a soundbite on the evening news or a Facebook post or letter to the editor but as a single story stitched together. While much has happened both before and after the summer of 2025, this article is focused on the resignation of Auditor Kaczinski, the appointment of Auditor Schwarz, the election of Auditor Brant, and the […] - [Nov 25 2025 Madison County Board of Supervisors Meeting](https://themadisonreport.com/videos/2025/11/supervisors-meeting) - [Two Bids Received for Annual County Audit: $106,000 Cost Difference Over Three-Year Period](https://themadisonreport.com/news/2025/11/annual-county-audit): The Madison County Supervisors met on Tuesday, November 25, for their regularly scheduled meeting. On the agenda was the opening of bids for the annual county audit. Two bids were received and opened at the meeting. The first bid was from the Iowa State Auditor’s Office. The State of Iowa’s bid is $102,250 for Fiscal Year 2025, $107,250 for FY2026, and $112,350 for FY2027. The second bid was from Mauldin & Jenkins LLC, based out of Georgia, who bid $70,000 for Fiscal Year 2025, $72,500 for FY2026, and $75,000 for FY2027. The bid from the Iowa State Auditor was 49% […] - [Iowa’s New Anti-SLAPP Law: A Win for Free Speech and Citizen Journalism](https://themadisonreport.com/news/2025/11/iowas-new-anti-slapp-law): In a major victory for free speech, Iowa has joined the majority of states enacting laws to protect citizens from being silenced by meritless lawsuits. Governor Kim Reynolds signed House File 472, Iowa’s first anti-SLAPP law, in 2025 — a measure designed to safeguard the rights of individuals and journalists who speak out on matters of public concern. (View the law here.) What is SLAPP? SLAPP stands for Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation. These lawsuits are often filed by powerful individuals, companies, or government officials to intimidate or punish critics — not to seek justice. The goal is to drain […] - [The Madison Report: Expanding our News Coverage](https://themadisonreport.com/news/2025/11/the-madison-report-expanding-our-news-coverage): The Madison Report was born from a need for truth and transparency. We are now expanding our reach beyond our YouTube channel and Facebook page to include a website. There is a void in Madison County and across Iowa that we would like to fill—we do not have an accurate news source for local political news. We often find errors, omissions, and falsehoods in local news outlets. The Madison Report understands the work it takes to provide accurate and timely news, and we believe we can provide a better alternative. We have a willing and determined group of writers and […] - [Madison County Courthouse Inspection Presentation - Nov 11 2025](https://themadisonreport.com/videos/2025/11/bos-meeting-11-11-2025-3): During the regular meeting of Madison County Supervisors, Mark Parlee of Building Consultants gave a presentation highlighting some of his findings from the recent courthouse inspection. - [CO2 Pipeline Discussion by Madison County Board of Supervisors - Nov. 11 2025](https://themadisonreport.com/videos/2025/11/bos-meeting-11-11-2025-2): 3 minute clip of discussion regarding CO2 Pipeline and support of Amicus Brief to the U.S. Supreme Court. - [Nov 11 2025 Board of Supervisors Meeting](https://themadisonreport.com/videos/2025/11/bos-meeting-11-11-2025) - [Oct 30 2025 Closed Session Meeting](https://themadisonreport.com/videos/2025/11/bos-meeting-10-30-2025): The Madison County Board of Supervisors held a closed session meeting. The Madison Report footage is for the open part of the meeting prior to going into closed session. No one in attendance objected to the meeting being closed. The county conducts closed meetings at times to handle issues for which Iowa Code allows. The agenda for the meeting stated: POSSIBLE CLOSED SESSION PURSUANT TO IOWA CODE SECTION Iowa Code section 21.5(1)(i) – To evaluate the professional competency of an individual whose appointment, hiring, performance, or discharge is being considered when necessary to prevent needless and irreparable injury to that […] - [October 7 2025 Special Board of Supervisors Mtg - includes ADA walkthrough](https://themadisonreport.com/videos/2025/10/bos-meeting-10-7-2025) - [October 28 2025 Board of Supervisors Meeting](https://themadisonreport.com/videos/2025/10/bos-meeting-10-28-2025) - [BOS Meeting 10/27/2025](https://themadisonreport.com/videos/2025/10/bos-meeting-10-27-2025) - [BOS Meeting 8/26/2025](https://themadisonreport.com/videos/2025/10/bos-meeting): This is some text at the top and I don’t know how much of it will show on the little boxes. - [BOS Meeting 10/14/2025](https://themadisonreport.com/videos/2025/10/bos-meeting-2): 10/14/2025 Board of Supervisors Meeting - [Covered Bridge Festival Parade 2025](https://themadisonreport.com/videos/2025/10/covered-bridge-festival-parade-2025): 2025 Covered Bridge Festival parade in Winterset. - [BOS Special Meeting 9/29/2025](https://themadisonreport.com/videos/2025/09/bos-special-meeting-9-29-2025) ## Pages - [Article Page 2](https://themadisonreport.com/when-local-politics-boil-over/article-page-2): This would be for the second page. - [Article Page 1](https://themadisonreport.com/when-local-politics-boil-over/article-page-1): This is the first page. - [When Local Politics Boil Over: Madison County's Fight for the Auditor's Office](https://themadisonreport.com/when-local-politics-boil-over): Contents 1. Introduction Madison County has been in political turmoil for months. While the tensions have been brewing for years, they ramped up in 2025 and reached a boiling point this past summer. What follows is a retrospective look at what unfolded, not as a soundbite on the evening news or a Facebook post or letter to the editor but as a single story stitched together. While much has happened both before and after the summer of 2025, this article is focused on the resignation of Auditor Kaczinski, the appointment of Auditor Schwarz, the election of Auditor Brant, and the […] - [Home](https://themadisonreport.com/home) - [About The Madison Report](https://themadisonreport.com/about) - [Privacy Policy](https://themadisonreport.com/privacy-policy): Who we are Suggested text: Our website address is: https://themadisonreport.com. 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