A CONFLICT OF INTEREST *

● Deer Creek Estates LLC a land development company was founded and is partially owned by Ed Skinner and R. Bradley Skinner. Geri Huser is a daughter/sister, employee and beneficiary via the Skinner family trust. Geri Huser's actions as State Representative and as Chairperson of the Des Moines MPO have increased the viability and monetary value of Deer Creek Estates LLC.  Geri Huser has not abstained during key votes or made officials aware of her relationship to Deer Creek Estates when infrastructure decisions involving Deer Creek Estates have been made.

● Conflict #1- Geri Huser has used her position as a State Representative in the House, as a member of the local government subcommittee, to change Iowa law so that a rural water district could be purchased by a municipality or utility company. This enables city water to be brought into land developments such as Deer Creek Estates allowing for concentrated property development. This increases the property value and viability of Deer Creek Estates.  Geri Huser introduced and was in the subcommittee which recommended the law and she voted for the new law. 

● Conflict #2- Geri Huser has used her position as chair of the Des Moines Area MPO to vote for and preside over the recommendation of  the N.E. 18th overpass bridge over I-35 as well as another bridge that crosses Four Mile Creek.  The N.E. 18th overpass was placed into the the LRTP (Long Range Transportation Plan) under the supervision of Geri Huser. The N.E. 18th overpass thrusts directly into Deer Creek Estates from the City of Ankeny. The N.E. 18th overpass was placed in the LRTP despite the fact that the construction of the overpass is riddled with problems, is expensive and is not necessary.  The MPO is also involved in a request for funding for the overpass via ICAAP (Iowa Clean Air Attainment Program).  There also appears to be jurisdictional problems. The MPO may not have the right to place the N.E. 18th Street overpass into the LRTP.  Some maps may have been erroneously or purposely altered.  All this is occurring while Geri Huser chairs the Des Moines Area MPO.  Refer to Arguments Against the Proposed NE 18th Overpass for detailed information.  A PDF reader is required.

● Conflict #3- Deer Creek Estates lies adjacent to the proposed N.E. Beltway corridor. If the beltway is constructed it will increase the value of Deer Creek Estates properties. Geri Huser as chair of the MPO board is involved with studies and recommendations that will determine the future of the N.E. Beltway.  Geri Huser directed that the Full Build Out Transportation Plan that studies the N.E. Beltway (FBOTP) proceed.  The committee that studies the beltway will be chaired by her own appointee.  FBOTP studies include the testing and evaluation of Level of Service (LOS) for roads, environmental studies, capacity needs and identification of transportation links for the N.E. Beltway. This information will be used when determining whether or not the N.E. Beltway is necessary. Geri Huser's father, Ed Skinner is one of the largest contributors to Leonard Boswell's campaign. Rep. Leonard Boswell is a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Leonard Boswell made the request for funding of the environmental study for the proposed N.E. Beltway area.
 

Download an extensive document detailing the alleged conflict of interest involving Geri Huser.
(This information has already been submitted to the Iowa Ethics & Campaign Disclosure Board)

The following is from the code of Iowa:

Code of Iowa

68B.2A Conflicts of interest.

1. Any person who serves or is employed by the state or a political subdivision of the state shall not engage in any outside employment or activity which is in conflict with the person's official duties and responsibilities. In determining whether particular outside employment or activity creates an unacceptable conflict of interest, situations in which an unacceptable conflict shall be deemed to exist shall include, but not to be limited to, any of the following:

a. The outside employment or activity involves the use of the state's or the political subdivision's time, facilities, equipment, and supplies or the use of the state or political subdivision badge, uniform, business card, or other evidences of office or employment to give the person or member of the person's immediate family an advantage or pecuniary benefit that is not available to other similarly situated members or classes of members of the general public. This paragraph does not apply to off-duty peace officers who provide private duty security or fire fighters or emergency medical care providers certified under chapter 147A who provide private duty fire safety or emergency medical services while carrying their badge or wearing their official uniform, provided that the person has secured the prior approval of the agency or political subdivision in which the person is regularly employed to engage in the activity. For purposes of this subsection, a person is not "similarly situated" merely by being or being related to a person who serves or is employed by the state or a political subdivision of the state.

b. The outside employment or activity involves the receipt of, promise of, or acceptance of money or other consideration by the person, or a member of the person's immediate family, from anyone other than the state or the political subdivision for the performance of any act that the person would be required or expected to perform as a part of the person's regular duties or during the hours during which the person performs service or work for the state or political subdivision of the state.

c. The outside employment or activity is subject to the official control, inspection, review, audit, or enforcement authority of the person, during the performance of the person's duties of office or employment.

2. If the outside employment or activity is employment or activity described in subsection 1, paragraph "a" or "b", the person shall immediately cease the employment or activity. If the outside employment or activity is employment or activity described in subsection 1, paragraph "c", or constitutes any other unacceptable conflict of interest, unless otherwise provided by law, the person shall take one of the following courses of action:

a. Cease the outside employment or activity.

b. Publicly disclose the existence of the conflict and refrain from taking any official action or performing any official duty that would detrimentally affect or create a benefit for the outside employment or activity. For purposes of this paragraph, "official action" or "official duty" includes, but is not limited to, participating in any vote, taking affirmative action to influence any vote, granting any license or permit, determining the facts or law in a contested case or rulemaking proceeding, conducting any inspection, or providing any other official service or thing that is not available generally to members of the public in order to further the interests of the outside employment or activity.

3. Unless otherwise specifically provided the requirements of this section shall be in addition to, and shall not supersede, any other rights or remedies provided by law.

End of Iowa Code Section

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