{ "attribution": { "source": "legal.exploreworldai.com", "canonical": "https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/judgment-text?id=us:iowa-25-2197-2026-10-02", "cite_as": "NovaCopilot, legal.exploreworldai.com (https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/judgment-text?id=us:iowa-25-2197-2026-10-02)", "license": "https://legal.exploreworldai.com/revision", "version": "legal-2026-10-08", "fingerprint": "ewai:se:711432", "proof": "sha256:226f3bcc2674f570037730799e1d1c005d47dc347f5d6e1f5c045701bbb4ee65", "jurisdiction": "se", "lang": "en", "publisher": "NovaCopilot by ExploreWorld Legal", "terms": "https://legal.exploreworldai.com/om" }, "brand_source": "Source: NovaCopilot", "item": { "schema_version": "1.0.0", "id": "us:iowa-25-2197-2026-10-02", "jurisdiction": "us", "lang": "en", "brand_source": "Source: NovaCopilot", "brand": { "product": "NovaCopilot", "platform": "ExploreWorldAI", "infrastructure": "ExploreWorld Legal", "infrastructure_url": "legal.exploreworldai.com", "legal_entity": "Valkiv Ventures AB", "permanent_url": "https://legal.exploreworldai.com/novacopilot", "source": "Source: NovaCopilot", "powered_by": "Powered by NovaCopilot", "license": "https://legal.exploreworldai.com/licensvillkor" }, "sections": [ { "title": "In the Iowa Supreme Court", "paragraphs": [] }, { "title": "No. 25–2197", "paragraphs": [] }, { "title": "Submitted September 10, 2026—Filed October 2, 2026", "paragraphs": [ "para_4", "para_5", "para_6", "para_7", "para_8", "para_9", "para_10" ] }, { "title": "A member of the Pottawattamie County Board of Supervisors appeals his", "paragraphs": [ "para_12" ] }, { "title": "Christensen, C.J., delivered the opinion of the court, in which all justices", "paragraphs": [ "para_14" ] }, { "title": "Gina Messamer (argued) of Parrish Kruidenier, L.L.P., Des Moines, for", "paragraphs": [ "para_16" ] }, { "title": "Brenna Bird, Attorney General; Eric H. Wessan (argued), Solicitor General;", "paragraphs": [ "para_18" ] }, { "title": "2", "paragraphs": [ "para_20" ] }, { "title": "We must decide whether an elected official’s intoxication justifies his", "paragraphs": [ "para_22", "para_23", "para_24", "para_25", "para_26", "para_27", "para_28", "para_29" ] }, { "title": "Following an investigation, the county attorney filed a petition to remove", "paragraphs": [ "para_31", "para_32", "para_33", "para_34", "para_35" ] }, { "title": "In November 2022, the voters of Pottawattamie County re-elected Scott", "paragraphs": [] }, { "title": "Belt to serve a fourth term of four years on the Board of Supervisors. This term", "paragraphs": [ "para_38", "para_39", "para_40" ] }, { "title": "As the chair, Belt picked the town hall’s location, decided who was going", "paragraphs": [ "para_42", "para_43" ] }, { "title": "1Belt ran for re-election in the June 2026 primary election but was not selected as one of", "paragraphs": [ "para_45" ] }, { "title": "3", "paragraphs": [ "para_47", "para_48", "para_49" ] }, { "title": "Community Center, stated, “No deliberation or formal action will be taken at this", "paragraphs": [ "para_51" ] }, { "title": "Around 5:30 p.m. on the evening of the town hall, Belt stopped at", "paragraphs": [] }, { "title": "The Bar’N and Grill in Carson, where surveillance video captured him ordering", "paragraphs": [ "para_54" ] }, { "title": "Carson. Houser “was under the impression that [Belt] had had some drinks and", "paragraphs": [ "para_56", "para_57", "para_58", "para_59", "para_60", "para_61" ] }, { "title": "Around 5:55 p.m., Belt ordered a vodka cocktail, then alternated his", "paragraphs": [ "para_63", "para_64", "para_65", "para_66", "para_67", "para_68", "para_69", "para_70" ] }, { "title": "Belt arrived at the town hall around 6:20 p.m. Approximately fifty people", "paragraphs": [ "para_72" ] }, { "title": "4", "paragraphs": [ "para_74", "para_75", "para_76", "para_77", "para_78", "para_79" ] }, { "title": "One attendee who interacted with Belt just before the meeting noticed", "paragraphs": [ "para_81", "para_82" ] }, { "title": "Belt “was a little bit more loud and animated than normal” while he was “moving", "paragraphs": [ "para_84", "para_85", "para_86", "para_87", "para_88" ] }, { "title": "On stage, Belt stood behind a Pottawattamie County–branded lectern and", "paragraphs": [ "para_90", "para_91", "para_92", "para_93", "para_94", "para_95", "para_96", "para_97", "para_98" ] }, { "title": "5", "paragraphs": [ "para_100", "para_101", "para_102" ] }, { "title": "He proceeded to give a rambling introduction of Reed as the first presenter. As", "paragraphs": [ "para_104", "para_105", "para_106" ] }, { "title": "Another stated that Belt was “waving [the microphone] as he was talking” and", "paragraphs": [ "para_108", "para_109", "para_110" ] }, { "title": "Belt briefly left the stage during Reed’s presentation and sat down at a", "paragraphs": [ "para_112", "para_113", "para_114", "para_115", "para_116" ] }, { "title": "Belt returned to the stage during Reed’s presentation and walked behind", "paragraphs": [ "para_118", "para_119", "para_120", "para_121", "para_122", "para_123" ] }, { "title": "In the meantime, county staff and other board members tried to formulate", "paragraphs": [ "para_125" ] }, { "title": "6", "paragraphs": [ "para_127", "para_128", "para_129", "para_130" ] }, { "title": "Perdue took the lead, approaching the stage and motioning for Belt. She", "paragraphs": [ "para_132" ] }, { "title": "Council election, and Belt followed her out of the room. Reed expressed", "paragraphs": [ "para_134", "para_135" ] }, { "title": "Wichman subsequently approached Gerber, the PR manager, while Reed", "paragraphs": [ "para_137", "para_138", "para_139", "para_140", "para_141", "para_142" ] }, { "title": "Perdue and Shea explained that this outburst was the result of Shea telling", "paragraphs": [] }, { "title": "Belt that he could not go back into the meeting. The encounter was captured on", "paragraphs": [ "para_145", "para_146", "para_147" ] }, { "title": "I could certainly hear the voices.” A Carson city employee with building keys left", "paragraphs": [ "para_149", "para_150" ] }, { "title": "Perdue, Wichman, and Shea alternated in and out of the room with Belt", "paragraphs": [ "para_152" ] }, { "title": "7", "paragraphs": [ "para_154", "para_155", "para_156", "para_157", "para_158", "para_159", "para_160", "para_161", "para_162", "para_163", "para_164", "para_165", "para_166", "para_167", "para_168" ] }, { "title": "Meanwhile, Perdue was alone with Belt, who was complaining about Shea", "paragraphs": [ "para_170", "para_171", "para_172" ] }, { "title": "Shea returned to the room with Wyant to find Belt “sitting on a folding", "paragraphs": [ "para_174" ] }, { "title": "Shea asked if everything was going all right, and Belt replied, “Yeah, except", "paragraphs": [ "para_176", "para_177", "para_178" ] }, { "title": "8", "paragraphs": [ "para_180", "para_181" ] }, { "title": "Wyant continued attempting to persuade Belt to leave with him, telling", "paragraphs": [ "para_183" ] }, { "title": "Belt replied, “I don’t give a fuck,” but Wyant was eventually able to get Belt to", "paragraphs": [ "para_185" ] }, { "title": "Wyant would drive Belt home to Council Bluffs in Belt’s vehicle with Chris", "paragraphs": [ "para_187" ] }, { "title": "Wyant testified that it took “about 45 minutes” to get to Belt’s home from the", "paragraphs": [ "para_189" ] }, { "title": "When he entered Belt’s truck, Wyant noticed “a number” of prescription", "paragraphs": [ "para_191", "para_192", "para_193", "para_194", "para_195" ] }, { "title": "Wyant did not smell alcohol on Belt, though he acknowledged that he is a", "paragraphs": [ "para_197", "para_198", "para_199", "para_200", "para_201" ] }, { "title": "News of Belt’s behavior at the town hall quickly spread, as The Daily", "paragraphs": [] }, { "title": "Nonpareil uploaded its reporter’s video of Belt’s opening remarks on its website", "paragraphs": [ "para_204", "para_205" ] }, { "title": "9", "paragraphs": [ "para_207", "para_208", "para_209", "para_210", "para_211", "para_212", "para_213", "para_214", "para_215", "para_216" ] }, { "title": "The article also quoted a Carson resident who attended the meeting and", "paragraphs": [ "para_218", "para_219", "para_220", "para_221" ] }, { "title": "Tim Wichman,” where “[a] few brief loud noises could be heard from the hall", "paragraphs": [ "para_223" ] }, { "title": "As word of the town hall spread and the county investigated, it discovered", "paragraphs": [ "para_225", "para_226" ] }, { "title": "Code section 66.1A(6).3 Attached to the petition was an affidavit from Jasmine", "paragraphs": [ "para_228" ] }, { "title": "No. 104-191, 110 Stat. 1936 (codified as amended in scattered sections of 18, 26, 29, and", "paragraphs": [ "para_230", "para_231", "para_232" ] }, { "title": "3Iowa Code section 66.3(5) authorizes “the county attorney of the county where the duties", "paragraphs": [ "para_234" ] }, { "title": "10", "paragraphs": [] }, { "title": "Elmore, the county’s human resources director since October 6, 2025. Elmore’s", "paragraphs": [ "para_237", "para_238", "para_239" ] }, { "title": "Elmore reported in her affidavit:", "paragraphs": [] }, { "title": "On the morning of November 7, 2025, I went to the Pottawattamie", "paragraphs": [] }, { "title": "County Courthouse and fielded concerns from multiple employees", "paragraphs": [ "para_243", "para_244", "para_245", "para_246" ] }, { "title": "Upon consultation with the county attorney and sheriff, Elmore temporarily", "paragraphs": [ "para_248" ] }, { "title": "Belt’s threats to Shea at the town hall “became common knowledge almost", "paragraphs": [ "para_250" ] }, { "title": "Pottawattamie County.”", "paragraphs": [ "para_252", "para_253", "para_254" ] }, { "title": "State later dismissed one of those allegations from the petition, leaving the", "paragraphs": [ "para_256", "para_257" ] }, { "title": "Here are the additional allegations:4", "paragraphs": [ "para_259", "para_260", "para_261", "para_262", "para_263" ] }, { "title": "11", "paragraphs": [ "para_265", "para_266", "para_267", "para_268", "para_269", "para_270" ] }, { "title": "Webb who asked [Belt] if he wanted to be on video showing how he", "paragraphs": [ "para_272", "para_273", "para_274", "para_275" ] }, { "title": "Council Bluffs, “where [the] Iowa West [Foundation] was releasing the", "paragraphs": [ "para_277", "para_278", "para_279", "para_280", "para_281" ] }, { "title": "Counties (NAC) conference in Washington, D.C., where Belt “had two", "paragraphs": [ "para_283", "para_284", "para_285" ] }, { "title": "Shea, ‘Your problem is that you don’t know how to drink.’ ”", "paragraphs": [ "para_287" ] }, { "title": "Agency’s annual meeting in Council Bluffs because the County", "paragraphs": [] }, { "title": "Conservation Board was receiving an award. Belt helped welcome", "paragraphs": [ "para_290" ] }, { "title": "12", "paragraphs": [ "para_292", "para_293" ] }, { "title": "Chappell Roan concert, called event organizers and Westfair Board", "paragraphs": [ "para_295", "para_296" ] }, { "title": "Conservation Board member tried to inform Belt that he was not on the", "paragraphs": [] }, { "title": "Westfair Board, but Belt “merely continued on his rant.”", "paragraphs": [] }, { "title": "The petition asked the district court to “immediately suspend Scott A. Belt", "paragraphs": [ "para_300", "para_301", "para_302" ] }, { "title": "Fourth Judicial District to preside over these proceedings under Iowa Code", "paragraphs": [ "para_304" ] }, { "title": "A two-day trial occurred on December 3 and 4. Belt did not attend the", "paragraphs": [ "para_306", "para_307", "para_308", "para_309" ] }, { "title": "For instance, PR manager Gerber testified that the town hall situation was", "paragraphs": [ "para_311", "para_312", "para_313", "para_314", "para_315" ] }, { "title": "Board of Directors meeting involved Belt, as his town hall behavior “was alluded", "paragraphs": [ "para_317" ] }, { "title": "13", "paragraphs": [ "para_319", "para_320", "para_321", "para_322" ] }, { "title": "2024 awards banquet, explained why he did not come forward about it until after", "paragraphs": [ "para_324", "para_325" ] }, { "title": "Taking a tongue lashing and him having maybe a few too many to", "paragraphs": [ "para_327", "para_328" ] }, { "title": "Several others testified that Belt’s personality had become more", "paragraphs": [ "para_330", "para_331", "para_332", "para_333", "para_334", "para_335" ] }, { "title": "Belt called five witnesses, each of whom discussed their positive", "paragraphs": [ "para_337", "para_338", "para_339", "para_340", "para_341", "para_342", "para_343", "para_344", "para_345" ] }, { "title": "14", "paragraphs": [ "para_347" ] }, { "title": "Nevertheless, the district court determined that Belt’s intoxication at the town", "paragraphs": [ "para_349", "para_350", "para_351", "para_352", "para_353", "para_354" ] }, { "title": "Chapter 66.” State v. Bartz, 224 N.W.2d 632, 634 (Iowa 1974). To answer this", "paragraphs": [ "para_356", "para_357", "para_358", "para_359" ] }, { "title": "Belt begins by challenging the sufficiency of the evidence to prove his", "paragraphs": [ "para_361", "para_362", "para_363", "para_364" ] }, { "title": "First, he asks us to reverse and remand the case for further consideration", "paragraphs": [ "para_366", "para_367", "para_368", "para_369" ] }, { "title": "We address these issues in turn, as necessary.5", "paragraphs": [] }, { "title": "5Although Belt initially argued that he was entitled to attorney fees on the dismissed", "paragraphs": [ "para_372", "para_373" ] }, { "title": "15", "paragraphs": [] }, { "title": "A. The State Presented Sufficient Evidence of Belt’s Intoxication at", "paragraphs": [ "para_376", "para_377", "para_378" ] }, { "title": "Crowder v. Smith, 4 N.W.2d 267, 268 (Iowa 1942) (per curiam)). This standard", "paragraphs": [ "para_380", "para_381" ] }, { "title": "Bartz, 224 N.W.2d at 638). Removal proceedings are equitable in nature, see", "paragraphs": [] }, { "title": "Iowa Code § 66.18, and our duty in equitable cases on de novo review is “to", "paragraphs": [ "para_384", "para_385", "para_386" ] }, { "title": "1971). In doing so, “we give the trial court’s findings weight ‘but nonetheless", "paragraphs": [ "para_388", "para_389", "para_390" ] }, { "title": "Essentially, the “question before us as triers [d]e novo on this appeal” is", "paragraphs": [ "para_392", "para_393" ] }, { "title": "Bartz, 224 N.W.2d at 634. Here, the district court removed Belt from office for", "paragraphs": [ "para_395", "para_396", "para_397", "para_398", "para_399" ] }, { "title": "16", "paragraphs": [] }, { "title": "A person is intoxicated within the meaning of Iowa Code section 66.1A(6)", "paragraphs": [ "para_402", "para_403", "para_404" ] }, { "title": "195, 197 (Iowa 1884)). This includes when his alcohol use has altered his reason", "paragraphs": [ "para_406", "para_407" ] }, { "title": "2004) (listing the same or comparable factors to define “intoxication” in suits", "paragraphs": [ "para_409", "para_410", "para_411" ] }, { "title": "The audio and video recordings of Belt perhaps best depict his", "paragraphs": [ "para_413", "para_414", "para_415", "para_416", "para_417", "para_418", "para_419", "para_420", "para_421" ] }, { "title": "Contrary to Belt’s argument, the State was not required to rule out that", "paragraphs": [ "para_423" ] }, { "title": "665 (Iowa 2013) (“Once a defendant has presented evidence sufficient to show", "paragraphs": [ "para_425", "para_426" ] }, { "title": "17", "paragraphs": [ "para_428", "para_429" ] }, { "title": "Belt never introduced evidence about any medications that he was on or how", "paragraphs": [ "para_431", "para_432", "para_433", "para_434" ] }, { "title": "B. The State Was Not Required to Prove That Belt Was Acting in His", "paragraphs": [] }, { "title": "Official Capacity During the Town Hall. Belt challenges the district court’s", "paragraphs": [ "para_437", "para_438", "para_439", "para_440", "para_441", "para_442" ] }, { "title": "Iowa Code section 66.1A provides:", "paragraphs": [] }, { "title": "Any appointive or elective officer, except such as may be removed", "paragraphs": [ "para_445", "para_446", "para_447" ] }, { "title": "1. For willful or habitual neglect or refusal to perform the", "paragraphs": [ "para_449", "para_450", "para_451" ] }, { "title": "6The State contends that Belt waived this argument because he “challenges the district", "paragraphs": [ "para_453", "para_454", "para_455", "para_456" ] }, { "title": "18", "paragraphs": [ "para_458", "para_459", "para_460", "para_461" ] }, { "title": "8. For failure to pay a fine imposed pursuant to section 39A.6", "paragraphs": [ "para_463" ] }, { "title": "Our statutory interpretation analysis begins by determining whether the", "paragraphs": [ "para_465", "para_466", "para_467", "para_468", "para_469", "para_470" ] }, { "title": "The other subsections of the statute further support that conclusion. See", "paragraphs": [] }, { "title": "Doe v. State, 943 N.W.2d 608, 610 (Iowa 2020) (“In determining the ordinary and", "paragraphs": [ "para_473", "para_474", "para_475", "para_476", "para_477", "para_478", "para_479", "para_480", "para_481", "para_482", "para_483" ] }, { "title": "19", "paragraphs": [] }, { "title": "Belt relies on similar language in State v. Welsh, 79 N.W. 369, 371 (Iowa", "paragraphs": [] }, { "title": "1899), in arguing that the State had to prove he was acting in his official capacity", "paragraphs": [ "para_487", "para_488", "para_489", "para_490", "para_491", "para_492", "para_493", "para_494", "para_495" ] }, { "title": "The legislature chose to limit certain grounds for removal through", "paragraphs": [ "para_497", "para_498", "para_499" ] }, { "title": "646, 650 (Iowa 2021). If the legislature had wanted to limit removal for", "paragraphs": [ "para_501", "para_502", "para_503", "para_504" ] }, { "title": "This interpretation aligns with our precedent governing the removal of a", "paragraphs": [ "para_506" ] }, { "title": "124 N.W. 767, 769 (Iowa 1910) (per curiam), we rejected the public official’s", "paragraphs": [ "para_508", "para_509", "para_510" ] }, { "title": "20", "paragraphs": [ "para_512", "para_513", "para_514", "para_515", "para_516" ] }, { "title": "In reaching this conclusion, we recognize Belt’s concern that authorizing", "paragraphs": [ "para_518", "para_519", "para_520", "para_521", "para_522" ] }, { "title": "857 N.W.2d 495, 500 (Iowa 2014), and we cannot read a limitation into Iowa", "paragraphs": [ "para_524", "para_525" ] }, { "title": "Plus, we think the statutory scheme under Iowa Code chapter 66 is built", "paragraphs": [ "para_527", "para_528", "para_529", "para_530", "para_531", "para_532", "para_533", "para_534", "para_535", "para_536" ] }, { "title": "21", "paragraphs": [ "para_538", "para_539" ] }, { "title": "We agree with the State that it was not required to connect Belt’s", "paragraphs": [ "para_541", "para_542", "para_543", "para_544" ] }, { "title": "C. The District Court Recognized and Exercised Its Discretion in the", "paragraphs": [] }, { "title": "Removal Decision. Belt asks us to reverse his removal and remand his case to", "paragraphs": [ "para_547", "para_548", "para_549", "para_550", "para_551", "para_552", "para_553", "para_554" ] }, { "title": "2022); see also Segura v. State, 889 N.W.2d 215, 220 (Iowa 2017) (holding that", "paragraphs": [ "para_556", "para_557" ] }, { "title": "821 N.W.2d 856, 864 (Iowa 2012) (“If the court’s ruling indicates that the court", "paragraphs": [ "para_559" ] }, { "title": "7Belt’s brief contains a section titled “Error Preservation & Standard of Review,” but he", "paragraphs": [ "para_561", "para_562", "para_563", "para_564", "para_565", "para_566" ] }, { "title": "22", "paragraphs": [ "para_568" ] }, { "title": "641 N.W.2d 532, 540 (Iowa 2002))). And the record shows that the district court", "paragraphs": [ "para_570", "para_571", "para_572", "para_573", "para_574", "para_575" ] }, { "title": "The issue of fact is whether Mr. Belt was intoxicated on the", "paragraphs": [ "para_577", "para_578", "para_579", "para_580", "para_581", "para_582" ] }, { "title": "Belt’s counsel “agree[d] with [the State’s] summation,” and both sides", "paragraphs": [ "para_584", "para_585", "para_586", "para_587", "para_588" ] }, { "title": "The district court’s oral ruling acknowledged the equitable, and thus", "paragraphs": [ "para_590", "para_591", "para_592", "para_593", "para_594", "para_595", "para_596", "para_597" ] }, { "title": "23", "paragraphs": [] }, { "title": "The district court further stated that “Chapter 66 places significant", "paragraphs": [ "para_600", "para_601", "para_602", "para_603", "para_604", "para_605", "para_606", "para_607" ] }, { "title": "That the district court did not explicitly discuss “Belt’s positive", "paragraphs": [ "para_609", "para_610", "para_611", "para_612", "para_613" ] }, { "title": "Consequently, remanding for the district court to reweigh the evidence and", "paragraphs": [ "para_615" ] }, { "title": "D. Belt’s Intoxication and Corresponding Behavior Were Sufficient to", "paragraphs": [] }, { "title": "Justify His Removal. Belt argues in any event that his removal is not in the", "paragraphs": [ "para_618", "para_619", "para_620", "para_621", "para_622" ] }, { "title": "(Iowa 1910). Again, he relies on our analysis of cases in which the public official", "paragraphs": [] }, { "title": "24", "paragraphs": [ "para_625", "para_626" ] }, { "title": "Those cases required the State to prove that the public official acted with", "paragraphs": [ "para_628", "para_629" ] }, { "title": "(quoting Smith, 4 N.W.2d at 268). In that context, we explained, “Conduct may", "paragraphs": [ "para_631", "para_632", "para_633" ] }, { "title": "Unfortunately for Belt, that heightened standard does not apply to cases", "paragraphs": [ "para_635", "para_636", "para_637", "para_638", "para_639", "para_640" ] }, { "title": "Shortly thereafter, we considered whether public officials facing removal", "paragraphs": [ "para_642", "para_643" ] }, { "title": "(en banc). This was because the alleged duties at issue had not been settled", "paragraphs": [ "para_645", "para_646", "para_647" ] }, { "title": "We stressed these principles again most recently in Watkins, reaffirming that the", "paragraphs": [ "para_649", "para_650" ] }, { "title": "25", "paragraphs": [ "para_652", "para_653" ] }, { "title": "As we have explained in addressing Belt’s argument regarding official", "paragraphs": [ "para_655", "para_656", "para_657" ] }, { "title": "See, e.g., State v. Rhodes, 6 N.W.3d 741, 752 (Iowa 2024) (“We cannot give effect", "paragraphs": [ "para_659", "para_660", "para_661" ] }, { "title": "(“A material variation in terms suggests a variation in meaning.”). The same goes", "paragraphs": [ "para_663", "para_664", "para_665", "para_666" ] }, { "title": "Guardianship & Conservatorship of Radda, 955 N.W.2d 203, 214 (Iowa 2021)", "paragraphs": [] }, { "title": "(“Policy arguments to amend the statute should be directed to the legislature.”", "paragraphs": [ "para_669" ] }, { "title": "Regardless of willfulness, Belt concedes “that a single instance of", "paragraphs": [ "para_671", "para_672", "para_673", "para_674", "para_675", "para_676" ] }, { "title": "26", "paragraphs": [ "para_678", "para_679" ] }, { "title": "On our de novo review of the record, we disagree because we conclude that", "paragraphs": [] }, { "title": "Belt’s removal best protects public interests. See Watkins, 914 N.W.2d at 839", "paragraphs": [] }, { "title": "(“[Removal proceedings] are meant to protect public interests,” and they “exist to", "paragraphs": [ "para_683", "para_684", "para_685", "para_686", "para_687" ] }, { "title": "Belt downplays the situation. He made a mockery of the town hall, and that", "paragraphs": [ "para_689", "para_690", "para_691", "para_692", "para_693", "para_694", "para_695" ] }, { "title": "If Scott Belt the day after the town hall would have said, “I", "paragraphs": [ "para_697", "para_698", "para_699", "para_700", "para_701", "para_702" ] }, { "title": "I mean, he’s not taken responsibility for his actions. He has", "paragraphs": [ "para_704", "para_705", "para_706" ] }, { "title": "Moreover, we agree with the district court that he was acting in his official", "paragraphs": [ "para_708" ] }, { "title": "27", "paragraphs": [ "para_710", "para_711", "para_712", "para_713", "para_714", "para_715", "para_716", "para_717", "para_718", "para_719" ] }, { "title": "Additionally, the record is unrebutted that Belt consumed two double", "paragraphs": [ "para_721", "para_722" ] }, { "title": "Pottawattamie County were presumably paying him to attend. While there may", "paragraphs": [ "para_724", "para_725", "para_726", "para_727", "para_728", "para_729", "para_730" ] }, { "title": "Removal “is heroic in nature and relatively drastic in a system where the", "paragraphs": [ "para_732" ] }, { "title": "914 N.W.2d at 839 (quoting Bartz, 224 N.W.2d at 638). It should be used only", "paragraphs": [ "para_734", "para_735" ] }, { "title": "28", "paragraphs": [ "para_737", "para_738", "para_739", "para_740" ] }, { "title": "We affirm the district court’s removal of Belt from his position on the", "paragraphs": [ "para_742", "para_743" ] } ], "paragraphs": [ { "text": "In the Iowa Supreme Court", "paragraph_id": "para_1" }, { "text": "No. 25–2197", "paragraph_id": "para_2" }, { "text": "Submitted September 10, 2026—Filed October 2, 2026", "paragraph_id": "para_3" }, { "text": "State of Iowa,", "paragraph_id": "para_4" }, { "text": "Appellee,", "paragraph_id": "para_5" }, { "text": "vs.", "paragraph_id": "para_6" }, { "text": "Scott A. Belt,", "paragraph_id": "para_7" }, { "text": "Appellant.", "paragraph_id": "para_8" }, { "text": "Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Pottawattamie County, Roger L.", "paragraph_id": "para_9" }, { "text": "Sailer, judge.", "paragraph_id": "para_10" }, { "text": "A member of the Pottawattamie County Board of Supervisors appeals his", "paragraph_id": "para_11" }, { "text": "removal from office for intoxication. District court judgment affirmed.", "paragraph_id": "para_12" }, { "text": "Christensen, C.J., delivered the opinion of the court, in which all justices", "paragraph_id": "para_13" }, { "text": "joined.", "paragraph_id": "para_14" }, { "text": "Gina Messamer (argued) of Parrish Kruidenier, L.L.P., Des Moines, for", "paragraph_id": "para_15" }, { "text": "appellant.", "paragraph_id": "para_16" }, { "text": "Brenna Bird, Attorney General; Eric H. Wessan (argued), Solicitor General;", "paragraph_id": "para_17" }, { "text": "and Patrick C. Valencia, Deputy Solicitor General, for appellee.", "paragraph_id": "para_18" }, { "text": "2", "paragraph_id": "para_19" }, { "text": "Christensen, Chief Justice.", "paragraph_id": "para_20" }, { "text": "We must decide whether an elected official’s intoxication justifies his", "paragraph_id": "para_21" }, { "text": "removal from office under Iowa Code section 66.1A(6) (2025). The defendant, a", "paragraph_id": "para_22" }, { "text": "member of the Pottawattamie County Board of Supervisors (the Board), was", "paragraph_id": "para_23" }, { "text": "serving as the Board’s chair when he organized and agreed to serve as the emcee", "paragraph_id": "para_24" }, { "text": "at a town hall meeting. This did not go according to plan because the defendant", "paragraph_id": "para_25" }, { "text": "spent the hour before the meeting drinking alcohol at a local bar and then arrived", "paragraph_id": "para_26" }, { "text": "at the town hall visibly and audibly under the influence. Other attendees and", "paragraph_id": "para_27" }, { "text": "presenters had to intervene and transport the defendant home, while video and", "paragraph_id": "para_28" }, { "text": "reports of the defendant’s behavior became local news.", "paragraph_id": "para_29" }, { "text": "Following an investigation, the county attorney filed a petition to remove", "paragraph_id": "para_30" }, { "text": "the defendant from office. The district court ordered the removal after a two-day", "paragraph_id": "para_31" }, { "text": "trial. We retained the defendant’s appeal, which challenges his removal in", "paragraph_id": "para_32" }, { "text": "various ways. Because none of these challenges are persuasive, we affirm the", "paragraph_id": "para_33" }, { "text": "judgment of the district court.", "paragraph_id": "para_34" }, { "text": "I. Background Facts and Proceedings.", "paragraph_id": "para_35" }, { "text": "In November 2022, the voters of Pottawattamie County re-elected Scott", "paragraph_id": "para_36" }, { "text": "Belt to serve a fourth term of four years on the Board of Supervisors. This term", "paragraph_id": "para_37" }, { "text": "began in January 2023 and expires December 31, 2026.1 In 2025, Belt was", "paragraph_id": "para_38" }, { "text": "serving as the Board’s chair when he planned for the Board to hold an evening", "paragraph_id": "para_39" }, { "text": "town hall meeting in Carson on November 5.", "paragraph_id": "para_40" }, { "text": "As the chair, Belt picked the town hall’s location, decided who was going", "paragraph_id": "para_41" }, { "text": "to speak, and designated himself the emcee. At Belt’s direction, the Board’s", "paragraph_id": "para_42" }, { "text": "executive assistant posted an agenda for the meeting on November 4, which", "paragraph_id": "para_43" }, { "text": "1Belt ran for re-election in the June 2026 primary election but was not selected as one of", "paragraph_id": "para_44" }, { "text": "his party’s candidates for the November 2026 election.", "paragraph_id": "para_45" }, { "text": "3", "paragraph_id": "para_46" }, { "text": "listed department updates from various agencies and county officials, including", "paragraph_id": "para_47" }, { "text": "the Board, the county auditor, and the sheriff’s office. The agenda for the", "paragraph_id": "para_48" }, { "text": "meeting, which was set for November 5 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Carson", "paragraph_id": "para_49" }, { "text": "Community Center, stated, “No deliberation or formal action will be taken at this", "paragraph_id": "para_50" }, { "text": "meeting.”", "paragraph_id": "para_51" }, { "text": "Around 5:30 p.m. on the evening of the town hall, Belt stopped at", "paragraph_id": "para_52" }, { "text": "The Bar’N and Grill in Carson, where surveillance video captured him ordering", "paragraph_id": "para_53" }, { "text": "a Budweiser and taking a seat at the bar next to Adam Houser, the mayor of", "paragraph_id": "para_54" }, { "text": "Carson. Houser “was under the impression that [Belt] had had some drinks and", "paragraph_id": "para_55" }, { "text": "was possibly intoxicated” when he arrived “based on his speech and actions.” At", "paragraph_id": "para_56" }, { "text": "one point, Belt left his barstool to stand behind Houser, where he gave Houser a", "paragraph_id": "para_57" }, { "text": "pat on the back and massaged his shoulders before moving to stand in the bar’s", "paragraph_id": "para_58" }, { "text": "entryway, essentially placing himself directly behind the bar. Belt stood on a sign", "paragraph_id": "para_59" }, { "text": "that said, “DO NOT FUCKING STAND HERE” and talked to patrons for a few", "paragraph_id": "para_60" }, { "text": "minutes before returning to his seat.", "paragraph_id": "para_61" }, { "text": "Around 5:55 p.m., Belt ordered a vodka cocktail, then alternated his", "paragraph_id": "para_62" }, { "text": "drinking between the Budweiser and the cocktail. He made his way across the", "paragraph_id": "para_63" }, { "text": "bar to hand out business cards and introduce himself to others, often standing", "paragraph_id": "para_64" }, { "text": "within their close proximity. One patron, whom Belt had poked in the back, was", "paragraph_id": "para_65" }, { "text": "so upset about Belt’s treatment of her that she messaged The Bar’N and Grill’s", "paragraph_id": "para_66" }, { "text": "owner about it. At some point, Houser asked Belt if he had to attend the town", "paragraph_id": "para_67" }, { "text": "hall that evening out of concern that Belt had been drinking. Belt “said it was a", "paragraph_id": "para_68" }, { "text": "meet and greet and that he would be fine.” He later asked for a to-go cup of his", "paragraph_id": "para_69" }, { "text": "cocktail and a straw, which he left with around 6:14 p.m.", "paragraph_id": "para_70" }, { "text": "Belt arrived at the town hall around 6:20 p.m. Approximately fifty people", "paragraph_id": "para_71" }, { "text": "were in attendance. Kate Gerber, the county public relations (PR) manager,", "paragraph_id": "para_72" }, { "text": "4", "paragraph_id": "para_73" }, { "text": "approached Belt to outline the agenda and other relevant information. In doing", "paragraph_id": "para_74" }, { "text": "so, she “was concerned about . . . the volume of [his] conversation as well as the", "paragraph_id": "para_75" }, { "text": "fact that [she] could smell alcohol.” Gerber approached the Board’s executive", "paragraph_id": "para_76" }, { "text": "assistant “and indicated that she could smell alcohol on [Belt’s] breath and", "paragraph_id": "para_77" }, { "text": "that . . . she felt that he was intoxicated.” This prompted the executive assistant", "paragraph_id": "para_78" }, { "text": "to call the county’s human resources director to report Gerber’s observations.", "paragraph_id": "para_79" }, { "text": "One attendee who interacted with Belt just before the meeting noticed", "paragraph_id": "para_80" }, { "text": "“a heavy alcohol smell,” and another one observed that Belt’s “eyes looked", "paragraph_id": "para_81" }, { "text": "funny.” Doug Reed, the county emergency management director, noticed that", "paragraph_id": "para_82" }, { "text": "Belt “was a little bit more loud and animated than normal” while he was “moving", "paragraph_id": "para_83" }, { "text": "through the crowd and talking with people” to make his way to the stage. Reed", "paragraph_id": "para_84" }, { "text": "and other attendees reported that Belt “appeared to be unsteady on his feet” and", "paragraph_id": "para_85" }, { "text": "“had trouble getting up the steps [to the stage] a little bit.” Nevertheless, others", "paragraph_id": "para_86" }, { "text": "acknowledged that the stage setup was hard to maneuver, and everyone was", "paragraph_id": "para_87" }, { "text": "“bumping and tripping as [they] got up on there.”", "paragraph_id": "para_88" }, { "text": "On stage, Belt stood behind a Pottawattamie County–branded lectern and", "paragraph_id": "para_89" }, { "text": "in front of a screen identifying him as “Scott Belt, Board Chair.” He began the", "paragraph_id": "para_90" }, { "text": "meeting by leading the Pledge of Allegiance before launching into an incoherent", "paragraph_id": "para_91" }, { "text": "speech to introduce a moment of silence. This speech ranged from asking the", "paragraph_id": "para_92" }, { "text": "attendees to “wish those people that are out there, you know, trying to make the", "paragraph_id": "para_93" }, { "text": "best of themselves and serving our country,” to declaring the county a “great", "paragraph_id": "para_94" }, { "text": "place to live.” He then asked the attendees to “take this time and, you know, if", "paragraph_id": "para_95" }, { "text": "you’ve got to pray for your grandkids and pray for what’s going on in your life or", "paragraph_id": "para_96" }, { "text": "what’s going on in the world, I’m going to ask you to just take probably just a", "paragraph_id": "para_97" }, { "text": "minute here and we’re going to, you know, just use that time to give thanks for", "paragraph_id": "para_98" }, { "text": "5", "paragraph_id": "para_99" }, { "text": "what we’ve got.” A local reporter for The Daily Nonpareil, which covers the Council", "paragraph_id": "para_100" }, { "text": "Bluffs area, captured a portion of Belt’s opening remarks on video.", "paragraph_id": "para_101" }, { "text": "The moment of silence abruptly ended when Belt dropped the microphone.", "paragraph_id": "para_102" }, { "text": "He proceeded to give a rambling introduction of Reed as the first presenter. As", "paragraph_id": "para_103" }, { "text": "one attendee explained, “[A] lot of us raised our hands and asked him to please", "paragraph_id": "para_104" }, { "text": "hold [the microphone] up closer to his mouth so we could understand him. But", "paragraph_id": "para_105" }, { "text": "it was still muffled; and, you know, we couldn’t understand what he’s saying.”", "paragraph_id": "para_106" }, { "text": "Another stated that Belt was “waving [the microphone] as he was talking” and", "paragraph_id": "para_107" }, { "text": "that she “could not follow what he was saying.” And another turned to her", "paragraph_id": "para_108" }, { "text": "husband during Belt’s speech and asked, “Is he drunk?” She also texted a board", "paragraph_id": "para_109" }, { "text": "member to ask if Belt was drunk.", "paragraph_id": "para_110" }, { "text": "Belt briefly left the stage during Reed’s presentation and sat down at a", "paragraph_id": "para_111" }, { "text": "table where he began sifting through papers. County Auditor Mary Ann Hanusa", "paragraph_id": "para_112" }, { "text": "was seated on stage and reported that Belt’s actions at the table were “so loud", "paragraph_id": "para_113" }, { "text": "that it drew [her] attention away from looking at Doug Reed over to where the", "paragraph_id": "para_114" }, { "text": "sound was coming from.” She texted someone during the meeting, saying,", "paragraph_id": "para_115" }, { "text": "“SB drunk.”", "paragraph_id": "para_116" }, { "text": "Belt returned to the stage during Reed’s presentation and walked behind", "paragraph_id": "para_117" }, { "text": "the table of waiting presenters. He stopped behind presenter Suzanne Watson", "paragraph_id": "para_118" }, { "text": "and began patting and rubbing her back before trying to talk to her. “[B]y that", "paragraph_id": "para_119" }, { "text": "time,” an attendee remarked, “everybody was watching Mr. Belt. They w[ere not]", "paragraph_id": "para_120" }, { "text": "listening to Mr. Reed.” This attendee texted board member Brian Shea, saying,", "paragraph_id": "para_121" }, { "text": "“SB is drunk. Embarrassing.” Board member Susan Miller received a text from", "paragraph_id": "para_122" }, { "text": "a different concerned citizen asking, “Is he drunk?”", "paragraph_id": "para_123" }, { "text": "In the meantime, county staff and other board members tried to formulate", "paragraph_id": "para_124" }, { "text": "a plan for Belt’s exit. Shea and board member Tim Wichman stepped into the", "paragraph_id": "para_125" }, { "text": "6", "paragraph_id": "para_126" }, { "text": "lobby to discuss next steps when they encountered Starlyn Perdue entering the", "paragraph_id": "para_127" }, { "text": "building. Perdue, the chair of the county Republican Party, had already received", "paragraph_id": "para_128" }, { "text": "a text from her husband in the meeting about Belt’s behavior and joined the", "paragraph_id": "para_129" }, { "text": "conversation when she overheard Wichman and Shea discussing Belt.", "paragraph_id": "para_130" }, { "text": "Perdue took the lead, approaching the stage and motioning for Belt. She", "paragraph_id": "para_131" }, { "text": "asked Belt if she could ask him a question about the recent Council Bluffs City", "paragraph_id": "para_132" }, { "text": "Council election, and Belt followed her out of the room. Reed expressed", "paragraph_id": "para_133" }, { "text": "frustration with “try[ing] to grab control of the room” because “[e]verybody’s", "paragraph_id": "para_134" }, { "text": "attention was not on who was coming to present but who was leaving the stage.”", "paragraph_id": "para_135" }, { "text": "Wichman subsequently approached Gerber, the PR manager, while Reed", "paragraph_id": "para_136" }, { "text": "was presenting and told her to figure out how to keep Belt away from the", "paragraph_id": "para_137" }, { "text": "microphone. She ultimately took over Belt’s emcee duties for the rest of the", "paragraph_id": "para_138" }, { "text": "meeting, which included conducting a question-and-answer session at the end", "paragraph_id": "para_139" }, { "text": "of the meeting. Wichman retrieved Belt’s phone from the stage, then returned to", "paragraph_id": "para_140" }, { "text": "the lobby, where he found Belt calling Shea a “jackoff” and threatening to “kick", "paragraph_id": "para_141" }, { "text": "[his] ass.”", "paragraph_id": "para_142" }, { "text": "Perdue and Shea explained that this outburst was the result of Shea telling", "paragraph_id": "para_143" }, { "text": "Belt that he could not go back into the meeting. The encounter was captured on", "paragraph_id": "para_144" }, { "text": "surveillance video, but it is difficult to discern. Several attendees testified that", "paragraph_id": "para_145" }, { "text": "they could hear loud voices. For instance, Gerber testified, “There’s an audible,", "paragraph_id": "para_146" }, { "text": "loud argument that takes place. I couldn’t hear exactly what was being said, but", "paragraph_id": "para_147" }, { "text": "I could certainly hear the voices.” A Carson city employee with building keys left", "paragraph_id": "para_148" }, { "text": "the meeting room to shut the doors and redirect the lobby conversation to a", "paragraph_id": "para_149" }, { "text": "multipurpose room.", "paragraph_id": "para_150" }, { "text": "Perdue, Wichman, and Shea alternated in and out of the room with Belt", "paragraph_id": "para_151" }, { "text": "as they tried to navigate how to handle the situation. Perdue audio-recorded", "paragraph_id": "para_152" }, { "text": "7", "paragraph_id": "para_153" }, { "text": "parts of their conversations while she was in the room. The first recording starts", "paragraph_id": "para_154" }, { "text": "with someone telling Belt that he had had too much to drink, to which Belt", "paragraph_id": "para_155" }, { "text": "responded, “I don’t care what you say; there ain’t nobody in that audience that", "paragraph_id": "para_156" }, { "text": "said anything.” Someone interrupted Belt to clarify that the attendees were", "paragraph_id": "para_157" }, { "text": "“looking at us and wondering what’s going on,” and Belt replied, “Yeah, ‘cause", "paragraph_id": "para_158" }, { "text": "you guys are fuck ups.” Belt asked, “Are you guys gonna test me?” and reiterated", "paragraph_id": "para_159" }, { "text": "that he had “followed the agenda.” At no point did anyone ask Belt to perform", "paragraph_id": "para_160" }, { "text": "field sobriety testing.", "paragraph_id": "para_161" }, { "text": "Shea and Wichman left the room and relayed a message to Matt Wyant,", "paragraph_id": "para_162" }, { "text": "the county director of planning and development, who was on stage waiting to", "paragraph_id": "para_163" }, { "text": "present. Specifically, Wyant’s deputy “ask[ed] [him] if [he] had notes on [his]", "paragraph_id": "para_164" }, { "text": "presentation because she was going to take over and that [his] presence was", "paragraph_id": "para_165" }, { "text": "being requested in the hallway.” When Wyant told his deputy that he would not", "paragraph_id": "para_166" }, { "text": "leave the stage unless it was an official request, the deputy informed him that it", "paragraph_id": "para_167" }, { "text": "was at Wichman’s request.", "paragraph_id": "para_168" }, { "text": "Meanwhile, Perdue was alone with Belt, who was complaining about Shea", "paragraph_id": "para_169" }, { "text": "and Wichman policing his drinking. He is captured on the audio recording", "paragraph_id": "para_170" }, { "text": "stating, “There ain’t enough people out there; these two guys, they ain’t got the", "paragraph_id": "para_171" }, { "text": "best interests of the county; they’ve both got their own interests.” Wichman and", "paragraph_id": "para_172" }, { "text": "Shea returned to the room with Wyant to find Belt “sitting on a folding", "paragraph_id": "para_173" }, { "text": "table . . . [with] his legs kicked straight out in the air.”", "paragraph_id": "para_174" }, { "text": "Shea asked if everything was going all right, and Belt replied, “Yeah, except", "paragraph_id": "para_175" }, { "text": "for you fuckin’ nitwits,” and the pair got into a brief argument before Perdue", "paragraph_id": "para_176" }, { "text": "redirected the conversation. Wyant tried to persuade Belt to let him drive Belt", "paragraph_id": "para_177" }, { "text": "home, and Wichman reiterated to Belt that he needed to leave. Belt initially", "paragraph_id": "para_178" }, { "text": "8", "paragraph_id": "para_179" }, { "text": "refused, discussing how the people had elected him and how he “could bury", "paragraph_id": "para_180" }, { "text": "[Wichman] in an election.”", "paragraph_id": "para_181" }, { "text": "Wyant continued attempting to persuade Belt to leave with him, telling", "paragraph_id": "para_182" }, { "text": "Belt that others could inform attendees that Belt left due to a medical emergency.", "paragraph_id": "para_183" }, { "text": "Belt replied, “I don’t give a fuck,” but Wyant was eventually able to get Belt to", "paragraph_id": "para_184" }, { "text": "leave with him. Perdue retrieved her husband, Chris, and the group agreed that", "paragraph_id": "para_185" }, { "text": "Wyant would drive Belt home to Council Bluffs in Belt’s vehicle with Chris", "paragraph_id": "para_186" }, { "text": "following so that Wyant would have a ride back to his own vehicle in Carson.", "paragraph_id": "para_187" }, { "text": "Wyant testified that it took “about 45 minutes” to get to Belt’s home from the", "paragraph_id": "para_188" }, { "text": "town hall, amounting to around a ninety-minute round trip for him.", "paragraph_id": "para_189" }, { "text": "When he entered Belt’s truck, Wyant noticed “a number” of prescription", "paragraph_id": "para_190" }, { "text": "pills sitting on the passenger seat. “Some of them had just been picked up. Some", "paragraph_id": "para_191" }, { "text": "of them . . . were bottles. Some of them were in bags.” He also observed a tumbler", "paragraph_id": "para_192" }, { "text": "cup in the cupholder. Wyant recalled that they “talked about kind of everything", "paragraph_id": "para_193" }, { "text": "from 1975 on,” and Wyant even asked Belt if he needed to see a doctor. Belt", "paragraph_id": "para_194" }, { "text": "declined.", "paragraph_id": "para_195" }, { "text": "Wyant did not smell alcohol on Belt, though he acknowledged that he is a", "paragraph_id": "para_196" }, { "text": "former smoker who routinely uses gum and nicotine pouches that could affect", "paragraph_id": "para_197" }, { "text": "his smell. As they were approaching Belt’s house, a police officer was", "paragraph_id": "para_198" }, { "text": "coincidentally conducting a traffic stop near his driveway, and Belt exclaimed,", "paragraph_id": "para_199" }, { "text": "“They called the cops on me. They are here to arrest me.” Wyant dropped Belt off", "paragraph_id": "para_200" }, { "text": "without issue.", "paragraph_id": "para_201" }, { "text": "News of Belt’s behavior at the town hall quickly spread, as The Daily", "paragraph_id": "para_202" }, { "text": "Nonpareil uploaded its reporter’s video of Belt’s opening remarks on its website", "paragraph_id": "para_203" }, { "text": "and YouTube channel. The day after the town hall, Belt spoke with Andrew Smith", "paragraph_id": "para_204" }, { "text": "of The Daily Nonpareil for a news article titled “Supervisor Scott Belt left a town", "paragraph_id": "para_205" }, { "text": "9", "paragraph_id": "para_206" }, { "text": "hall early after speaking and moving erratically.” The article described how Belt", "paragraph_id": "para_207" }, { "text": "introduced the meeting “with rambling, slurred speech and uncoordinated body", "paragraph_id": "para_208" }, { "text": "movements” as he “bounced between a couple remarks before asking the room", "paragraph_id": "para_209" }, { "text": "to pray for the troops, their grandkids and whatever is going on in their lives.”", "paragraph_id": "para_210" }, { "text": "Belt told The Daily Nonpareil “that his behavior was caused by medication,", "paragraph_id": "para_211" }, { "text": "as he has undergone medical procedures recently” and that “he visited the doctor", "paragraph_id": "para_212" }, { "text": "[the morning after the town hall] to ‘figure out what was going on.’ ” However,", "paragraph_id": "para_213" }, { "text": "“Belt did not elaborate any further on his medical history, describing it as a", "paragraph_id": "para_214" }, { "text": "‘HIPAA deal.’ ”2 He did not admit to being drunk, responding, “I don’t know that", "paragraph_id": "para_215" }, { "text": "that would be accurate.”", "paragraph_id": "para_216" }, { "text": "The article also quoted a Carson resident who attended the meeting and", "paragraph_id": "para_217" }, { "text": "stated of Belt, “He was drunk. That guy was drunk. He got escorted out.” It", "paragraph_id": "para_218" }, { "text": "discussed how “Belt loudly flipped through papers,” drew attention from Reed’s", "paragraph_id": "para_219" }, { "text": "presentation by returning to the stage to stand behind the presenters, and", "paragraph_id": "para_220" }, { "text": "“was escorted into a hall outside the event alongside Supervisors Brian Shea and", "paragraph_id": "para_221" }, { "text": "Tim Wichman,” where “[a] few brief loud noises could be heard from the hall", "paragraph_id": "para_222" }, { "text": "before doors were shut.”", "paragraph_id": "para_223" }, { "text": "As word of the town hall spread and the county investigated, it discovered", "paragraph_id": "para_224" }, { "text": "other allegations against Belt. On November 14, nine days after the town hall", "paragraph_id": "para_225" }, { "text": "incident, the county attorney petitioned to remove Belt from office under Iowa", "paragraph_id": "para_226" }, { "text": "Code section 66.1A(6).3 Attached to the petition was an affidavit from Jasmine", "paragraph_id": "para_227" }, { "text": "2HIPAA is the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996. Pub. L.", "paragraph_id": "para_228" }, { "text": "No. 104-191, 110 Stat. 1936 (codified as amended in scattered sections of 18, 26, 29, and", "paragraph_id": "para_229" }, { "text": "42 U.S.C.). Under HIPAA regulations, a covered entity generally is not permitted to use or disclose", "paragraph_id": "para_230" }, { "text": "protected health information to others. 45 C.F.R. § 164.502(a) (2025). Nothing in HIPAA prevents", "paragraph_id": "para_231" }, { "text": "an individual from disclosing their own health information to others.", "paragraph_id": "para_232" }, { "text": "3Iowa Code section 66.3(5) authorizes “the county attorney of the county where the duties", "paragraph_id": "para_233" }, { "text": "of the office are to be performed” to file a removal petition against county officers.", "paragraph_id": "para_234" }, { "text": "10", "paragraph_id": "para_235" }, { "text": "Elmore, the county’s human resources director since October 6, 2025. Elmore’s", "paragraph_id": "para_236" }, { "text": "affidavit stated she had “received recent complaints from several county", "paragraph_id": "para_237" }, { "text": "employees about alleged verbally abusive and bullying conduct by Supervisor", "paragraph_id": "para_238" }, { "text": "Scott Belt” leading up to the town hall.", "paragraph_id": "para_239" }, { "text": "Elmore reported in her affidavit:", "paragraph_id": "para_240" }, { "text": "On the morning of November 7, 2025, I went to the Pottawattamie", "paragraph_id": "para_241" }, { "text": "County Courthouse and fielded concerns from multiple employees", "paragraph_id": "para_242" }, { "text": "who were concerned about their physical and psychological", "paragraph_id": "para_243" }, { "text": "well-being should Supervisor Belt come back to the Courthouse. In", "paragraph_id": "para_244" }, { "text": "response to concerns about one employee’s well-being, I temporarily", "paragraph_id": "para_245" }, { "text": "relocated that employee’s workplace to another county building.", "paragraph_id": "para_246" }, { "text": "Upon consultation with the county attorney and sheriff, Elmore temporarily", "paragraph_id": "para_247" }, { "text": "disabled Belt’s badge access to the courthouse. Elmore’s affidavit also noted that", "paragraph_id": "para_248" }, { "text": "Belt’s threats to Shea at the town hall “became common knowledge almost", "paragraph_id": "para_249" }, { "text": "immediately and this has added to the sense of stress for employees of", "paragraph_id": "para_250" }, { "text": "Pottawattamie County.”", "paragraph_id": "para_251" }, { "text": "In addition to alleging Belt’s intoxication during the November 5 town hall,", "paragraph_id": "para_252" }, { "text": "the petition alleged five other instances of intoxication “while acting in his official", "paragraph_id": "para_253" }, { "text": "capacity as a member of the Pottawattamie County Board of Supervisors.” The", "paragraph_id": "para_254" }, { "text": "State later dismissed one of those allegations from the petition, leaving the", "paragraph_id": "para_255" }, { "text": "district court to consider allegations of Belt’s intoxication at the town hall and", "paragraph_id": "para_256" }, { "text": "on five different occasions.", "paragraph_id": "para_257" }, { "text": "Here are the additional allegations:4", "paragraph_id": "para_258" }, { "text": "• November 2, 2025: Belt was intoxicated at the Smith Wildlife Refuge", "paragraph_id": "para_259" }, { "text": "in Garner Township, where the county maintains the parking lot. While", "paragraph_id": "para_260" }, { "text": "driving, Belt approached Mark Webb, who was walking his dog, and", "paragraph_id": "para_261" }, { "text": "asked if he was happy about the location’s maintenance because Belt", "paragraph_id": "para_262" }, { "text": "4These allegations do not include one allegation that the State dismissed.", "paragraph_id": "para_263" }, { "text": "11", "paragraph_id": "para_264" }, { "text": "had ensured that lights were installed there. Belt told Webb about his", "paragraph_id": "para_265" }, { "text": "role on the Board, which prompted Webb to ask if Belt was one of the", "paragraph_id": "para_266" }, { "text": "board members who voted to fire the former county engineer. Belt", "paragraph_id": "para_267" }, { "text": "replied affirmatively, telling Webb that the former county engineer was", "paragraph_id": "para_268" }, { "text": "a “fucking asshole.” After Webb tossed Belt’s business card back into", "paragraph_id": "para_269" }, { "text": "his truck, Belt “began directing profanities at Webb” and “kept berating", "paragraph_id": "para_270" }, { "text": "Webb who asked [Belt] if he wanted to be on video showing how he", "paragraph_id": "para_271" }, { "text": "treats constituents.” Belt “drove rapidly out of the parking lot all while", "paragraph_id": "para_272" }, { "text": "continuing to direct profanities at Webb.” Webb observed a cooler in", "paragraph_id": "para_273" }, { "text": "Belt’s back seat.", "paragraph_id": "para_274" }, { "text": "• September 24, 2025: Belt attended an event at the Hoff Center in", "paragraph_id": "para_275" }, { "text": "Council Bluffs, “where [the] Iowa West [Foundation] was releasing the", "paragraph_id": "para_276" }, { "text": "results of its recent Community Survey to community leaders prior to", "paragraph_id": "para_277" }, { "text": "its release to the general public.” He “had a stained shirt, was slurring", "paragraph_id": "para_278" }, { "text": "his words, had two drinks simultaneously in his hands at the bar, and", "paragraph_id": "para_279" }, { "text": "smelled of alcohol.”", "paragraph_id": "para_280" }, { "text": "• March 2025: Belt and Shea attended a National Association of", "paragraph_id": "para_281" }, { "text": "Counties (NAC) conference in Washington, D.C., where Belt “had two", "paragraph_id": "para_282" }, { "text": "double-shots of Bailey[’]s Irish Cream (an alcoholic liqueur) in his coffee", "paragraph_id": "para_283" }, { "text": "at breakfast before heading into classes” at the conference. “Just prior", "paragraph_id": "para_284" }, { "text": "to ordering the first round of alcohol at breakfast, [Belt] told Supervisor", "paragraph_id": "para_285" }, { "text": "Shea, ‘Your problem is that you don’t know how to drink.’ ”", "paragraph_id": "para_286" }, { "text": "• October 9, 2024: Belt attended the Metropolitan Area Planning", "paragraph_id": "para_287" }, { "text": "Agency’s annual meeting in Council Bluffs because the County", "paragraph_id": "para_288" }, { "text": "Conservation Board was receiving an award. Belt helped welcome", "paragraph_id": "para_289" }, { "text": "participants and was “obviously intoxicated,” as he “smelled of alcohol,", "paragraph_id": "para_290" }, { "text": "12", "paragraph_id": "para_291" }, { "text": "repeatedly dropped his silverware, and was visibly agitated.” Belt", "paragraph_id": "para_292" }, { "text": "“confronted the Conservation Board member about traffic at the recent", "paragraph_id": "para_293" }, { "text": "Chappell Roan concert, called event organizers and Westfair Board", "paragraph_id": "para_294" }, { "text": "members names, and said that he was going to start limiting", "paragraph_id": "para_295" }, { "text": "attendance at Westfair Amphitheater events in the future.” The", "paragraph_id": "para_296" }, { "text": "Conservation Board member tried to inform Belt that he was not on the", "paragraph_id": "para_297" }, { "text": "Westfair Board, but Belt “merely continued on his rant.”", "paragraph_id": "para_298" }, { "text": "The petition asked the district court to “immediately suspend Scott A. Belt", "paragraph_id": "para_299" }, { "text": "from office pending the final resolution of this matter as authorized by Iowa Code", "paragraph_id": "para_300" }, { "text": "§ 66.7.” The district court granted the immediate suspension request that same", "paragraph_id": "para_301" }, { "text": "day. Belt subsequently applied for the appointment of a judge from outside the", "paragraph_id": "para_302" }, { "text": "Fourth Judicial District to preside over these proceedings under Iowa Code", "paragraph_id": "para_303" }, { "text": "section 66.13, which we granted on November 18.", "paragraph_id": "para_304" }, { "text": "A two-day trial occurred on December 3 and 4. Belt did not attend the", "paragraph_id": "para_305" }, { "text": "second day of trial and offered no reason for his absence. Twenty-five witnesses", "paragraph_id": "para_306" }, { "text": "testified for the State about what occurred at The Bar’N and Grill and the town", "paragraph_id": "para_307" }, { "text": "hall, the additional allegations of intoxication against Belt, and the fallout from", "paragraph_id": "para_308" }, { "text": "Belt’s town hall behavior.", "paragraph_id": "para_309" }, { "text": "For instance, PR manager Gerber testified that the town hall situation was", "paragraph_id": "para_310" }, { "text": "“a PR nightmare” and detailed how it overshadowed positive county events. She", "paragraph_id": "para_311" }, { "text": "lamented, “[W]hen launching these positive initiatives and trying to get this", "paragraph_id": "para_312" }, { "text": "positive information out there, ultimately the things that are going to still end up", "paragraph_id": "para_313" }, { "text": "on the front page of the paper are things about this case.” Reed testified that", "paragraph_id": "para_314" }, { "text": "“[j]ust about every conversation” at his first Iowa State Association of Counties", "paragraph_id": "para_315" }, { "text": "Board of Directors meeting involved Belt, as his town hall behavior “was alluded", "paragraph_id": "para_316" }, { "text": "to, joked about, discussed, [and] asked about.” Carson resident Lori Crum", "paragraph_id": "para_317" }, { "text": "13", "paragraph_id": "para_318" }, { "text": "attended the meeting to “put names with faces,” but she testified, “I wouldn’t be", "paragraph_id": "para_319" }, { "text": "able to tell you who was who now because the meeting was so -- the beginning", "paragraph_id": "para_320" }, { "text": "was so distracting.”", "paragraph_id": "para_321" }, { "text": "Eric Hough, who testified about his encounter with Belt at the October 9,", "paragraph_id": "para_322" }, { "text": "2024 awards banquet, explained why he did not come forward about it until after", "paragraph_id": "para_323" }, { "text": "the town hall. Hough testified,", "paragraph_id": "para_324" }, { "text": "Mr. Belt is a very powerful individual. He likes to wield his authority.", "paragraph_id": "para_325" }, { "text": "Taking a tongue lashing and him having maybe a few too many to", "paragraph_id": "para_326" }, { "text": "drink or a lot too many [to] drink was not something that I felt would", "paragraph_id": "para_327" }, { "text": "gain any traction if I had brought it up at the time of the event.", "paragraph_id": "para_328" }, { "text": "Several others testified that Belt’s personality had become more", "paragraph_id": "para_329" }, { "text": "“aggressive” over the past fifteen months, coinciding with his time as the Board’s", "paragraph_id": "para_330" }, { "text": "chair. This included Council Bluffs Mayor Matthew Walsh, who testified that Belt", "paragraph_id": "para_331" }, { "text": "had become “very outspoken, very aggressive, very opinionated.” Likewise, board", "paragraph_id": "para_332" }, { "text": "member Miller remarked, “[Belt’s] become aggressive, kind of argumentative,", "paragraph_id": "para_333" }, { "text": "difficult to have a conversation with.” Perdue also echoed this characterization", "paragraph_id": "para_334" }, { "text": "of Belt.", "paragraph_id": "para_335" }, { "text": "Belt called five witnesses, each of whom discussed their positive", "paragraph_id": "para_336" }, { "text": "experiences working with Belt in different capacities and claimed they never had", "paragraph_id": "para_337" }, { "text": "reason to believe he was intoxicated or unprofessional. During closing, the State", "paragraph_id": "para_338" }, { "text": "dismissed one of its allegations of intoxication against Belt for lack of evidence,", "paragraph_id": "para_339" }, { "text": "submitting five allegations of intoxication to the district court.", "paragraph_id": "para_340" }, { "text": "In an oral ruling, the district court found that “[t]he evidence shows clearly,", "paragraph_id": "para_341" }, { "text": "satisfactorily, and convincingly” that Belt was voluntarily intoxicated and acting", "paragraph_id": "para_342" }, { "text": "in his official capacity as a board member during the town hall. Regarding the", "paragraph_id": "para_343" }, { "text": "other four allegations, it found that the State failed to meet its burden of proving", "paragraph_id": "para_344" }, { "text": "intoxication but opined, “That finding might be different for one or more of those", "paragraph_id": "para_345" }, { "text": "14", "paragraph_id": "para_346" }, { "text": "events if the standard here were preponderance of the evidence, but it is not.”", "paragraph_id": "para_347" }, { "text": "Nevertheless, the district court determined that Belt’s intoxication at the town", "paragraph_id": "para_348" }, { "text": "hall alone was sufficient to justify his removal from office. We retained Belt’s", "paragraph_id": "para_349" }, { "text": "timely appeal.", "paragraph_id": "para_350" }, { "text": "II. Standard of Review.", "paragraph_id": "para_351" }, { "text": "“There is essentially but one question before us as triers [d]e novo on this", "paragraph_id": "para_352" }, { "text": "appeal: Does the record compiled below contain sufficient evidence of [Belt’s", "paragraph_id": "para_353" }, { "text": "intoxication] to necessitate [his] removal from office under the provisions of", "paragraph_id": "para_354" }, { "text": "Chapter 66.” State v. Bartz, 224 N.W.2d 632, 634 (Iowa 1974). To answer this", "paragraph_id": "para_355" }, { "text": "question, “we give weight to findings of the trial court, but nonetheless assume", "paragraph_id": "para_356" }, { "text": "the responsibility of reviewing the entire record in determining the case anew on", "paragraph_id": "para_357" }, { "text": "appeal.” Id.", "paragraph_id": "para_358" }, { "text": "III. Analysis.", "paragraph_id": "para_359" }, { "text": "Belt begins by challenging the sufficiency of the evidence to prove his", "paragraph_id": "para_360" }, { "text": "intoxication at the town hall. Moreover, he maintains that the district court erred", "paragraph_id": "para_361" }, { "text": "in concluding that he was acting in his official capacity as a member of the Board", "paragraph_id": "para_362" }, { "text": "during the town hall. Belt offers alternative grounds for reversal if we agree with", "paragraph_id": "para_363" }, { "text": "the district court’s conclusions on these two issues.", "paragraph_id": "para_364" }, { "text": "First, he asks us to reverse and remand the case for further consideration", "paragraph_id": "para_365" }, { "text": "because the district court failed to recognize its discretion not to remove Belt", "paragraph_id": "para_366" }, { "text": "from office. Second, Belt asserts that on our de novo review, we should not", "paragraph_id": "para_367" }, { "text": "exercise our discretion to remove Belt from office for this single instance of", "paragraph_id": "para_368" }, { "text": "intoxication, and reversal is required so that he can be reinstated to his term.", "paragraph_id": "para_369" }, { "text": "We address these issues in turn, as necessary.5", "paragraph_id": "para_370" }, { "text": "5Although Belt initially argued that he was entitled to attorney fees on the dismissed", "paragraph_id": "para_371" }, { "text": "counts, he later conceded in his reply brief that he failed to preserve error on this issue. Thus,", "paragraph_id": "para_372" }, { "text": "we consider it waived and do not address it on appeal.", "paragraph_id": "para_373" }, { "text": "15", "paragraph_id": "para_374" }, { "text": "A. The State Presented Sufficient Evidence of Belt’s Intoxication at", "paragraph_id": "para_375" }, { "text": "the Town Hall. Belt argues that the State failed to establish “by clear,", "paragraph_id": "para_376" }, { "text": "convincing, satisfactory evidence” that he was intoxicated at the town hall.", "paragraph_id": "para_377" }, { "text": "State v. Watkins, 914 N.W.2d 827, 837 (Iowa 2018) (quoting State ex rel.", "paragraph_id": "para_378" }, { "text": "Crowder v. Smith, 4 N.W.2d 267, 268 (Iowa 1942) (per curiam)). This standard", "paragraph_id": "para_379" }, { "text": "requires proof “by more than a preponderance of evidence, but something less", "paragraph_id": "para_380" }, { "text": "than establishing a factual situation beyond a reasonable doubt.” Id. (quoting", "paragraph_id": "para_381" }, { "text": "Bartz, 224 N.W.2d at 638). Removal proceedings are equitable in nature, see", "paragraph_id": "para_382" }, { "text": "Iowa Code § 66.18, and our duty in equitable cases on de novo review is “to", "paragraph_id": "para_383" }, { "text": "examine the whole record and adjudicate rights anew on those propositions", "paragraph_id": "para_384" }, { "text": "properly presented, provided issue has been raised and error, if any preserved", "paragraph_id": "para_385" }, { "text": "in the course of trial proceedings.” In re Est. of Cory, 184 N.W.2d 693, 695 (Iowa", "paragraph_id": "para_386" }, { "text": "1971). In doing so, “we give the trial court’s findings weight ‘but nonetheless", "paragraph_id": "para_387" }, { "text": "assume the responsibility of reviewing the entire record in determining the case", "paragraph_id": "para_388" }, { "text": "anew on appeal.’ ” Watkins, 914 N.W.2d at 838 (quoting Bartz, 224 N.W.2d", "paragraph_id": "para_389" }, { "text": "at 634).", "paragraph_id": "para_390" }, { "text": "Essentially, the “question before us as triers [d]e novo on this appeal” is", "paragraph_id": "para_391" }, { "text": "whether the record compiled below contains sufficient evidence of Belt’s", "paragraph_id": "para_392" }, { "text": "intoxication to justify his removal from office under Iowa Code section 66.1A(6).", "paragraph_id": "para_393" }, { "text": "Bartz, 224 N.W.2d at 634. Here, the district court removed Belt from office for", "paragraph_id": "para_394" }, { "text": "his intoxication at the town hall and concluded the State failed to prove its other", "paragraph_id": "para_395" }, { "text": "allegations of intoxication. The State does not argue on appeal that any of those", "paragraph_id": "para_396" }, { "text": "other grounds should have been sustained, so we review only whether the record", "paragraph_id": "para_397" }, { "text": "compiled below contains sufficient evidence of Belt’s intoxication at the town", "paragraph_id": "para_398" }, { "text": "hall.", "paragraph_id": "para_399" }, { "text": "16", "paragraph_id": "para_400" }, { "text": "A person is intoxicated within the meaning of Iowa Code section 66.1A(6)", "paragraph_id": "para_401" }, { "text": "“when he is so far under the influence of intoxicating liquors that his passions", "paragraph_id": "para_402" }, { "text": "are visibly excited or his judgment impaired.” State ex rel. Cosson v. Baughn,", "paragraph_id": "para_403" }, { "text": "143 N.W. 1100, 1101 (Iowa 1913) (per curiam) (quoting State v. Pierce, 21 N.W.", "paragraph_id": "para_404" }, { "text": "195, 197 (Iowa 1884)). This includes when his alcohol use has altered his reason", "paragraph_id": "para_405" }, { "text": "or faculties, caused him to lose control of his person or body, or rendered him", "paragraph_id": "para_406" }, { "text": "incoherent. Id.; see also Smith v. Shagnasty’s, Inc., 688 N.W.2d 67, 72 (Iowa", "paragraph_id": "para_407" }, { "text": "2004) (listing the same or comparable factors to define “intoxication” in suits", "paragraph_id": "para_408" }, { "text": "brought under Iowa’s dramshop statute, Iowa Code § 123.92 (2001)). The State", "paragraph_id": "para_409" }, { "text": "presented ample evidence that Belt was intoxicated at the town hall—despite the", "paragraph_id": "para_410" }, { "text": "absence of any law-enforcement sobriety tests.", "paragraph_id": "para_411" }, { "text": "The audio and video recordings of Belt perhaps best depict his", "paragraph_id": "para_412" }, { "text": "intoxication. They capture Belt threatening to assault Shea, swearing at fellow", "paragraph_id": "para_413" }, { "text": "board members, slurring his words, and incoherently rambling, along with his", "paragraph_id": "para_414" }, { "text": "dropping the microphone and distracting behavior on stage during Reed’s", "paragraph_id": "para_415" }, { "text": "presentation. The State also presented several witnesses to corroborate its claim", "paragraph_id": "para_416" }, { "text": "that Belt consumed alcoholic beverages at The Bar’N and Grill before attending", "paragraph_id": "para_417" }, { "text": "the town hall. Likewise, multiple witnesses from the town hall testified that they", "paragraph_id": "para_418" }, { "text": "noticed “a heavy alcohol smell,” that his “eyes looked funny,” and that his", "paragraph_id": "para_419" }, { "text": "behavior “was a little bit more loud and animated than normal.” Many reported", "paragraph_id": "para_420" }, { "text": "texting others during the town hall with their belief that Belt was intoxicated.", "paragraph_id": "para_421" }, { "text": "Contrary to Belt’s argument, the State was not required to rule out that", "paragraph_id": "para_422" }, { "text": "his behavior was due to a medical issue. Cf. State v. Schories, 827 N.W.2d 659,", "paragraph_id": "para_423" }, { "text": "665 (Iowa 2013) (“Once a defendant has presented evidence sufficient to show", "paragraph_id": "para_424" }, { "text": "the prescription drug defense applies [to a charge of operating a vehicle while", "paragraph_id": "para_425" }, { "text": "under the influence of a controlled substance], the State has the burden of", "paragraph_id": "para_426" }, { "text": "17", "paragraph_id": "para_427" }, { "text": "disproving each element of the defense beyond a reasonable doubt.”). Notably,", "paragraph_id": "para_428" }, { "text": "despite telling The Daily Nonpareil “that his behavior was caused by medication,”", "paragraph_id": "para_429" }, { "text": "Belt never introduced evidence about any medications that he was on or how", "paragraph_id": "para_430" }, { "text": "those might have affected him independent of alcohol. In any event, the State", "paragraph_id": "para_431" }, { "text": "presented “clear, convincing, satisfactory” evidence of Belt’s intoxication at the", "paragraph_id": "para_432" }, { "text": "town hall, so we affirm the district court’s intoxication finding. Watkins,", "paragraph_id": "para_433" }, { "text": "914 N.W.2d at 837 (quoting Smith, 4 N.W.2d at 268).", "paragraph_id": "para_434" }, { "text": "B. The State Was Not Required to Prove That Belt Was Acting in His", "paragraph_id": "para_435" }, { "text": "Official Capacity During the Town Hall. Belt challenges the district court’s", "paragraph_id": "para_436" }, { "text": "conclusion that he was acting in his official capacity as a Pottawattamie County", "paragraph_id": "para_437" }, { "text": "supervisor during the town hall, arguing that he was not performing a statutory", "paragraph_id": "para_438" }, { "text": "duty at the time.6 The State maintains that this limitation is not found in the", "paragraph_id": "para_439" }, { "text": "plain text of Iowa Code section 66.1A(6), which is where the analysis of Belt’s", "paragraph_id": "para_440" }, { "text": "argument should begin and end. We review questions of statutory interpretation", "paragraph_id": "para_441" }, { "text": "“for correction of errors at law.” Watkins, 914 N.W.2d at 837.", "paragraph_id": "para_442" }, { "text": "Iowa Code section 66.1A provides:", "paragraph_id": "para_443" }, { "text": "Any appointive or elective officer, except such as may be removed", "paragraph_id": "para_444" }, { "text": "only by impeachment, holding any public office in the state or in any", "paragraph_id": "para_445" }, { "text": "division or municipality thereof, may be removed from office by the", "paragraph_id": "para_446" }, { "text": "district court for any of the following reasons:", "paragraph_id": "para_447" }, { "text": "1. For willful or habitual neglect or refusal to perform the", "paragraph_id": "para_448" }, { "text": "duties of the office.", "paragraph_id": "para_449" }, { "text": "2. For willful misconduct or maladministration in office.", "paragraph_id": "para_450" }, { "text": "3. For corruption.", "paragraph_id": "para_451" }, { "text": "6The State contends that Belt waived this argument because he “challenges the district", "paragraph_id": "para_452" }, { "text": "court’s statutory interpretation but does not challenge the court’s finding that Belt acted in his", "paragraph_id": "para_453" }, { "text": "official capacity at the townhall.” We agree with Belt that “[t]his is splitting hairs,” as the district", "paragraph_id": "para_454" }, { "text": "court’s conclusion that Belt was acting in his official capacity depends on the district court’s", "paragraph_id": "para_455" }, { "text": "interpretation of the removal statute.", "paragraph_id": "para_456" }, { "text": "18", "paragraph_id": "para_457" }, { "text": "4. For extortion.", "paragraph_id": "para_458" }, { "text": "5. Upon conviction of a felony.", "paragraph_id": "para_459" }, { "text": "6. For intoxication, or upon conviction of being intoxicated.", "paragraph_id": "para_460" }, { "text": "7. Upon conviction of violating the provisions of chapter 68A.", "paragraph_id": "para_461" }, { "text": "8. For failure to pay a fine imposed pursuant to section 39A.6", "paragraph_id": "para_462" }, { "text": "and not dismissed pursuant to chapter 17A.", "paragraph_id": "para_463" }, { "text": "Our statutory interpretation analysis begins by determining whether the", "paragraph_id": "para_464" }, { "text": "statute is ambiguous. Murillo v. State, 13 N.W.3d 800, 808 (Iowa 2024). “We will", "paragraph_id": "para_465" }, { "text": "not resort to our rules of construction when the statutory text and meaning are", "paragraph_id": "para_466" }, { "text": "clear.” Hines-Miller v. Teter, 35 N.W.3d 321, 329–30 (Iowa 2026). That is the case", "paragraph_id": "para_467" }, { "text": "here, as the statutory language in Iowa Code section 66.1A(6) is clear in allowing", "paragraph_id": "para_468" }, { "text": "for the removal of an elected official “[f]or intoxication” regardless of whether it", "paragraph_id": "para_469" }, { "text": "was in the performance of an official duty.", "paragraph_id": "para_470" }, { "text": "The other subsections of the statute further support that conclusion. See", "paragraph_id": "para_471" }, { "text": "Doe v. State, 943 N.W.2d 608, 610 (Iowa 2020) (“In determining the ordinary and", "paragraph_id": "para_472" }, { "text": "fair meaning of the statutory language at issue, we take into consideration the", "paragraph_id": "para_473" }, { "text": "language’s relationship to other provisions of the same statute and other", "paragraph_id": "para_474" }, { "text": "provisions of related statutes.”). Unlike section 66.1A(6), other subsections", "paragraph_id": "para_475" }, { "text": "authorizing removal are expressly tied to the official’s performance of official", "paragraph_id": "para_476" }, { "text": "duties. This includes removal “[f]or willful or habitual neglect or refusal to", "paragraph_id": "para_477" }, { "text": "perform the duties of the office” under section 66.1A(1) and “[f]or willful", "paragraph_id": "para_478" }, { "text": "misconduct or maladministration in office” under section 66.1A(2). (Emphases", "paragraph_id": "para_479" }, { "text": "added.) We confirmed in State v. Watkins that “the phrase ‘in office’ modifies both", "paragraph_id": "para_480" }, { "text": "‘willful misconduct’ and ‘maladministration,’ ” thereby requiring the State to", "paragraph_id": "para_481" }, { "text": "show “that the alleged wrongdoer’s acts were committed within the scope of his", "paragraph_id": "para_482" }, { "text": "or her official responsibilities.” 914 N.W.2d at 840.", "paragraph_id": "para_483" }, { "text": "19", "paragraph_id": "para_484" }, { "text": "Belt relies on similar language in State v. Welsh, 79 N.W. 369, 371 (Iowa", "paragraph_id": "para_485" }, { "text": "1899), in arguing that the State had to prove he was acting in his official capacity", "paragraph_id": "para_486" }, { "text": "while intoxicated at the town hall. There, we reversed a directed verdict for a", "paragraph_id": "para_487" }, { "text": "sheriff facing removal, holding that a jury could find willful misconduct in his", "paragraph_id": "para_488" }, { "text": "voluntary intoxication while transporting a prisoner and willful neglect of duty", "paragraph_id": "para_489" }, { "text": "in allowing the prisoner about thirty hours of freedom. Id. at 371–72. We", "paragraph_id": "para_490" }, { "text": "explained, “Intoxication, when not occurring while in the discharge of an official", "paragraph_id": "para_491" }, { "text": "duty, is not a ground of removal from office.” Id. The differences are that", "paragraph_id": "para_492" }, { "text": "intoxication was not an enumerated ground for removal then and that, unlike", "paragraph_id": "para_493" }, { "text": "the officials in Watkins and Welsh, Belt faces removal solely “[f]or intoxication”", "paragraph_id": "para_494" }, { "text": "under Iowa Code section 66.1A(6).", "paragraph_id": "para_495" }, { "text": "The legislature chose to limit certain grounds for removal through", "paragraph_id": "para_496" }, { "text": "language explicitly connecting them to official responsibilities, and removal for", "paragraph_id": "para_497" }, { "text": "intoxication is not one of them. See Iowa Code § 66.1A. “A material variation in", "paragraph_id": "para_498" }, { "text": "terms suggests a variation in meaning.” Bribriesco-Ledger v. Klipsch, 957 N.W.2d", "paragraph_id": "para_499" }, { "text": "646, 650 (Iowa 2021). If the legislature had wanted to limit removal for", "paragraph_id": "para_500" }, { "text": "intoxication to situations in which an official is intoxicated while acting in their", "paragraph_id": "para_501" }, { "text": "official capacity, it would have used the same modifiers that it used in Iowa Code", "paragraph_id": "para_502" }, { "text": "section 66.1A(1) and (2). See Bribriesco-Ledger, 957 N.W.2d at 650 (“If the", "paragraph_id": "para_503" }, { "text": "legislature meant the same thing, we expect it would have said the same thing.”).", "paragraph_id": "para_504" }, { "text": "This interpretation aligns with our precedent governing the removal of a", "paragraph_id": "para_505" }, { "text": "public official for intoxication. For instance, in State ex rel. Kirby v. Henderson,", "paragraph_id": "para_506" }, { "text": "124 N.W. 767, 769 (Iowa 1910) (per curiam), we rejected the public official’s", "paragraph_id": "para_507" }, { "text": "argument that his intoxication during business hours was not “official", "paragraph_id": "para_508" }, { "text": "misconduct” because “he undertook no official duties during the period of", "paragraph_id": "para_509" }, { "text": "intoxication.” We explained, “The fallacy of the argument is that it is purely", "paragraph_id": "para_510" }, { "text": "20", "paragraph_id": "para_511" }, { "text": "theoretical, and not practical.” Id. And in State ex rel. Cosson v. Baughn, we held", "paragraph_id": "para_512" }, { "text": "that the Harlan mayor should be removed for intoxication after he drank", "paragraph_id": "para_513" }, { "text": "whiskey, went downtown one evening, and drew a crowd—large enough to", "paragraph_id": "para_514" }, { "text": "obstruct the streets—with his loud, profane, and slurred speech until the city", "paragraph_id": "para_515" }, { "text": "marshal dispersed it. 143 N.W. at 1102–03.", "paragraph_id": "para_516" }, { "text": "In reaching this conclusion, we recognize Belt’s concern that authorizing", "paragraph_id": "para_517" }, { "text": "the removal of an elected official from office for intoxication regardless of whether", "paragraph_id": "para_518" }, { "text": "it occurred during the performance of an official duty “risks unintended", "paragraph_id": "para_519" }, { "text": "consequences.” As Belt notes, “Elected officials may be approached by the public", "paragraph_id": "para_520" }, { "text": "at any time, in any place, because of the office they hold.” But “unambiguous", "paragraph_id": "para_521" }, { "text": "statutory language is the strongest evidence of the legislature’s intent,” In re J.C.,", "paragraph_id": "para_522" }, { "text": "857 N.W.2d 495, 500 (Iowa 2014), and we cannot read a limitation into Iowa", "paragraph_id": "para_523" }, { "text": "Code section 66.1A(6) that is not written in the statute, see Hines-Miller,", "paragraph_id": "para_524" }, { "text": "35 N.W.3d at 330.", "paragraph_id": "para_525" }, { "text": "Plus, we think the statutory scheme under Iowa Code chapter 66 is built", "paragraph_id": "para_526" }, { "text": "to deter removal from becoming a political weapon or regular legal action. These", "paragraph_id": "para_527" }, { "text": "deterrents include limitations on who may file a removal petition, bond", "paragraph_id": "para_528" }, { "text": "requirements for filing a removal petition, and witness fees. See Iowa Code", "paragraph_id": "para_529" }, { "text": "§§ 66.3, .4, .10, .28. Additionally, if the petition is dismissed, the government is", "paragraph_id": "para_530" }, { "text": "responsible for reimbursing the defendant “for the reasonable and necessary", "paragraph_id": "para_531" }, { "text": "expenses incurred by the defendant in making a defense, including reasonable", "paragraph_id": "para_532" }, { "text": "attorney’s fees, as determined by the court.” Id. § 66.23. Finally, judicial", "paragraph_id": "para_533" }, { "text": "involvement is intended to guard against politicization of the remedy. In", "paragraph_id": "para_534" }, { "text": "exercising its discretion, the district court here found an absence of political", "paragraph_id": "para_535" }, { "text": "motivation for the proceedings against Belt, and we do the same on our de novo", "paragraph_id": "para_536" }, { "text": "21", "paragraph_id": "para_537" }, { "text": "review. In sum, the removal process contains ample safeguards that reflect its", "paragraph_id": "para_538" }, { "text": "“penal or quasi-criminal” character. Watkins, 914 N.W.2d at 839.", "paragraph_id": "para_539" }, { "text": "We agree with the State that it was not required to connect Belt’s", "paragraph_id": "para_540" }, { "text": "intoxication to the exercise of an official duty for his removal under Iowa Code", "paragraph_id": "para_541" }, { "text": "section 66.1A(6). Nevertheless, whether a public official was acting in their", "paragraph_id": "para_542" }, { "text": "official capacity while committing misconduct is an equitable consideration for", "paragraph_id": "para_543" }, { "text": "the district court in ruling on the removal petition.", "paragraph_id": "para_544" }, { "text": "C. The District Court Recognized and Exercised Its Discretion in the", "paragraph_id": "para_545" }, { "text": "Removal Decision. Belt asks us to reverse his removal and remand his case to", "paragraph_id": "para_546" }, { "text": "the district court because the district court failed to recognize and exercise its", "paragraph_id": "para_547" }, { "text": "discretion in reaching its removal decision. The State maintains that Belt failed", "paragraph_id": "para_548" }, { "text": "to preserve error on this claim because he never filed a motion for", "paragraph_id": "para_549" }, { "text": "reconsideration under Iowa Rule of Civil Procedure 1.904(2) to bring the issue to", "paragraph_id": "para_550" }, { "text": "the district court’s attention.7 But “[w]hen we speak of error preservation, all we", "paragraph_id": "para_551" }, { "text": "mean is that a party has an obligation to raise an issue in the district court and", "paragraph_id": "para_552" }, { "text": "obtain a decision on the issue so that an appellate court can review the merits", "paragraph_id": "para_553" }, { "text": "of the decision actually rendered.” State v. Crawford, 972 N.W.2d 189, 198 (Iowa", "paragraph_id": "para_554" }, { "text": "2022); see also Segura v. State, 889 N.W.2d 215, 220 (Iowa 2017) (holding that", "paragraph_id": "para_555" }, { "text": "error was preserved because the district court’s ruling established that it had", "paragraph_id": "para_556" }, { "text": "considered and decided the argument at issue on appeal); Lamasters v. State,", "paragraph_id": "para_557" }, { "text": "821 N.W.2d 856, 864 (Iowa 2012) (“If the court’s ruling indicates that the court", "paragraph_id": "para_558" }, { "text": "considered the issue and necessarily ruled on it, even if the court’s reasoning is", "paragraph_id": "para_559" }, { "text": "7Belt’s brief contains a section titled “Error Preservation & Standard of Review,” but he", "paragraph_id": "para_560" }, { "text": "never explains how he preserved error on his appellate claims in this section or elsewhere in his", "paragraph_id": "para_561" }, { "text": "brief. It is only after the State challenged error preservation that Belt addressed the issue in his", "paragraph_id": "para_562" }, { "text": "reply brief. This is contrary to Iowa Rule of Appellate Procedure 6.903(2)(a)(8)(1), which states", "paragraph_id": "para_563" }, { "text": "that an appellant’s brief “must contain . . . [a] statement addressing how the issue was preserved", "paragraph_id": "para_564" }, { "text": "for appellate review, with references to the places in the record where the issue was raised and", "paragraph_id": "para_565" }, { "text": "decided in the district court.”", "paragraph_id": "para_566" }, { "text": "22", "paragraph_id": "para_567" }, { "text": "‘incomplete or sparse,’ the issue has been preserved.” (quoting Meier v. Senecaut,", "paragraph_id": "para_568" }, { "text": "641 N.W.2d 532, 540 (Iowa 2002))). And the record shows that the district court", "paragraph_id": "para_569" }, { "text": "was aware of its discretion and exercised it, so we can review Belt’s claim on the", "paragraph_id": "para_570" }, { "text": "merits.", "paragraph_id": "para_571" }, { "text": "The discretionary nature of these proceedings was evident throughout,", "paragraph_id": "para_572" }, { "text": "beginning with the State’s opening statement declaring that the district court", "paragraph_id": "para_573" }, { "text": "needed to address three issues—one each of fact, law, and equity. The State", "paragraph_id": "para_574" }, { "text": "explained,", "paragraph_id": "para_575" }, { "text": "The issue of fact is whether Mr. Belt was intoxicated on the", "paragraph_id": "para_576" }, { "text": "occasions that have been alleged in the petition. The issue of law is", "paragraph_id": "para_577" }, { "text": "whether or not these are official activities such -- or whether that", "paragraph_id": "para_578" }, { "text": "even matters, whether these are official activities that were related", "paragraph_id": "para_579" }, { "text": "to his job as county supervisor. The issue of equity is that, assuming", "paragraph_id": "para_580" }, { "text": "that the Court answers those questions in the affirmative, does", "paragraph_id": "para_581" }, { "text": "justice demand his removal from office.", "paragraph_id": "para_582" }, { "text": "Belt’s counsel “agree[d] with [the State’s] summation,” and both sides", "paragraph_id": "para_583" }, { "text": "reiterated the equitable nature of the proceedings in closing, with the State", "paragraph_id": "para_584" }, { "text": "emphasizing, “This is a case of equity. What is full and complete justice in this", "paragraph_id": "para_585" }, { "text": "case?” Belt, too, stated, “[W]e look at the equity issue, and that is is the town", "paragraph_id": "para_586" }, { "text": "hall enough? . . . [G]iven the totality of the evidence and the circumstances, this", "paragraph_id": "para_587" }, { "text": "just does not meet the equitable requirement for removing someone from office.”", "paragraph_id": "para_588" }, { "text": "The district court’s oral ruling acknowledged the equitable, and thus", "paragraph_id": "para_589" }, { "text": "discretionary, nature of its removal decision. After concluding that Belt was", "paragraph_id": "para_590" }, { "text": "voluntarily intoxicated at the town hall, the district court declared,", "paragraph_id": "para_591" }, { "text": "[T]he defense urges the Court to give careful consideration to what", "paragraph_id": "para_592" }, { "text": "it terms, quote, the equity issue, end quote, which it frames by", "paragraph_id": "para_593" }, { "text": "asking “Is just the town hall enough?” The Court does give that", "paragraph_id": "para_594" }, { "text": "question careful consideration. In fact, the Court finds this to be the", "paragraph_id": "para_595" }, { "text": "closest decision in this case. The Court believes that the question is", "paragraph_id": "para_596" }, { "text": "rightly posed.", "paragraph_id": "para_597" }, { "text": "23", "paragraph_id": "para_598" }, { "text": "The district court further stated that “Chapter 66 places significant", "paragraph_id": "para_599" }, { "text": "authority in the hands of the judiciary,” and that “it cannot be said that the", "paragraph_id": "para_600" }, { "text": "legislature did not intend to allow courts to remove an elected official on that", "paragraph_id": "para_601" }, { "text": "basis [of intoxication].” (Emphasis added.) Finally, the district court used its", "paragraph_id": "para_602" }, { "text": "discretion in considering Belt’s claim that the removal petition was politically", "paragraph_id": "para_603" }, { "text": "motivated, concluding that claim was “nothing more than a specter and is devoid", "paragraph_id": "para_604" }, { "text": "of any proof in these proceedings, and the Court does not find such a political", "paragraph_id": "para_605" }, { "text": "motivation at play in this case.” It ruled, “upon careful consideration . . . that the", "paragraph_id": "para_606" }, { "text": "petition should be and hereby is granted.” (Emphasis added.)", "paragraph_id": "para_607" }, { "text": "That the district court did not explicitly discuss “Belt’s positive", "paragraph_id": "para_608" }, { "text": "contributions to the community or his character as a public official” in explaining", "paragraph_id": "para_609" }, { "text": "its decision, as Belt maintains it should have, does not amount to a failure to", "paragraph_id": "para_610" }, { "text": "exercise discretion. “A review of the record . . . reveals that the court had before", "paragraph_id": "para_611" }, { "text": "it several sources of information and that it considered other relevant", "paragraph_id": "para_612" }, { "text": "factors . . . .” State v. McKeever, 276 N.W.2d 385, 388 (Iowa 1979).", "paragraph_id": "para_613" }, { "text": "Consequently, remanding for the district court to reweigh the evidence and", "paragraph_id": "para_614" }, { "text": "exercise its discretionary authority is unnecessary.", "paragraph_id": "para_615" }, { "text": "D. Belt’s Intoxication and Corresponding Behavior Were Sufficient to", "paragraph_id": "para_616" }, { "text": "Justify His Removal. Belt argues in any event that his removal is not in the", "paragraph_id": "para_617" }, { "text": "public interest, characterizing his removal as “an injustice both to him and voters", "paragraph_id": "para_618" }, { "text": "of Pottawattamie County who elected him to serve.” Belt asserts that removal is", "paragraph_id": "para_619" }, { "text": "appropriate only in exceptional cases when the public official’s action “is marked", "paragraph_id": "para_620" }, { "text": "by such grave misconduct or such flagrant incompetency as demonstrates his", "paragraph_id": "para_621" }, { "text": "unfitness for the position.” State ex rel. Barker v. Meek, 127 N.W. 1023, 1026", "paragraph_id": "para_622" }, { "text": "(Iowa 1910). Again, he relies on our analysis of cases in which the public official", "paragraph_id": "para_623" }, { "text": "24", "paragraph_id": "para_624" }, { "text": "was facing removal for willful misconduct as opposed to intoxication under Iowa", "paragraph_id": "para_625" }, { "text": "Code section 66.1A(6).", "paragraph_id": "para_626" }, { "text": "Those cases required the State to prove that the public official acted with", "paragraph_id": "para_627" }, { "text": "“willful intent to do wrong [and] an evil purpose . . . by clear, convincing,", "paragraph_id": "para_628" }, { "text": "satisfactory evidence.” Watkins, 914 N.W.2d at 837 (alteration in original)", "paragraph_id": "para_629" }, { "text": "(quoting Smith, 4 N.W.2d at 268). In that context, we explained, “Conduct may", "paragraph_id": "para_630" }, { "text": "be voluntary, thoughtless, or even reckless, yet not necessarily willful. Nor does", "paragraph_id": "para_631" }, { "text": "unlawfulness necessarily imply willfulness.” Meek, 127 N.W. at 1024 (citation", "paragraph_id": "para_632" }, { "text": "omitted).", "paragraph_id": "para_633" }, { "text": "Unfortunately for Belt, that heightened standard does not apply to cases", "paragraph_id": "para_634" }, { "text": "of removal for intoxication under Iowa Code section 66.1A(6) because “willful” is", "paragraph_id": "para_635" }, { "text": "the dispositive word to trigger that standard. This has long been the case. For", "paragraph_id": "para_636" }, { "text": "example, in 1910, we examined the meaning of “willful misconduct in office”", "paragraph_id": "para_637" }, { "text": "under the removal statute and concluded that “willful,” when used in statutes of", "paragraph_id": "para_638" }, { "text": "a penal nature, “is held with but few exceptions to imply an evil or corrupt motive", "paragraph_id": "para_639" }, { "text": "or intent.” Id.", "paragraph_id": "para_640" }, { "text": "Shortly thereafter, we considered whether public officials facing removal", "paragraph_id": "para_641" }, { "text": "for willfully neglecting to perform specific duties of their office “acted in good faith", "paragraph_id": "para_642" }, { "text": "or whether they acted willfully.” State v. Roth, 144 N.W. 339, 345 (Iowa 1913)", "paragraph_id": "para_643" }, { "text": "(en banc). This was because the alleged duties at issue had not been settled", "paragraph_id": "para_644" }, { "text": "under the law, and “[t]o hold that defendants should be removed for this would", "paragraph_id": "para_645" }, { "text": "be to hold that such officers must correctly interpret the laws in advance of", "paragraph_id": "para_646" }, { "text": "decisions by the courts, at the peril of removal if they fail to do so.” Id. at 344.", "paragraph_id": "para_647" }, { "text": "We stressed these principles again most recently in Watkins, reaffirming that the", "paragraph_id": "para_648" }, { "text": "removal of a public official for “willful misconduct or maladministration in office”", "paragraph_id": "para_649" }, { "text": "requires “evidence that the official committed the charged acts ‘intentionally,", "paragraph_id": "para_650" }, { "text": "25", "paragraph_id": "para_651" }, { "text": "deliberately, with a [subjectively] bad or evil purpose, contrary to known duty.’ ”", "paragraph_id": "para_652" }, { "text": "914 N.W.2d at 842 (alteration in original) (quoting Roth, 144 N.W. at 344).", "paragraph_id": "para_653" }, { "text": "As we have explained in addressing Belt’s argument regarding official", "paragraph_id": "para_654" }, { "text": "capacity, the legislature chose to limit certain grounds for removal through", "paragraph_id": "para_655" }, { "text": "language explicitly connecting them to “willful” misconduct. See Iowa Code", "paragraph_id": "para_656" }, { "text": "§ 66.1A. It did not do that for intoxication, and it is not our role to do so now.", "paragraph_id": "para_657" }, { "text": "See, e.g., State v. Rhodes, 6 N.W.3d 741, 752 (Iowa 2024) (“We cannot give effect", "paragraph_id": "para_658" }, { "text": "to Iowa Code section 724.25(2) by reading out the language the legislature", "paragraph_id": "para_659" }, { "text": "chose—‘as used in this chapter’—while reading in language—‘antique firearm’—that", "paragraph_id": "para_660" }, { "text": "does not appear in section 724.26.”); Bribriesco-Ledger, 957 N.W.2d at 650", "paragraph_id": "para_661" }, { "text": "(“A material variation in terms suggests a variation in meaning.”). The same goes", "paragraph_id": "para_662" }, { "text": "for our ability to address Belt’s misdirected policy concern that authorizing", "paragraph_id": "para_663" }, { "text": "removal for intoxication absent a finding of willfulness “would expose untold", "paragraph_id": "para_664" }, { "text": "numbers of elected officials to removal” because “the number of elected officials", "paragraph_id": "para_665" }, { "text": "who have been intoxicated at a public function is not insignificant.” See In re", "paragraph_id": "para_666" }, { "text": "Guardianship & Conservatorship of Radda, 955 N.W.2d 203, 214 (Iowa 2021)", "paragraph_id": "para_667" }, { "text": "(“Policy arguments to amend the statute should be directed to the legislature.”", "paragraph_id": "para_668" }, { "text": "(quoting In re Est. of Whalen, 827 N.W.2d 184, 187 (Iowa 2013))).", "paragraph_id": "para_669" }, { "text": "Regardless of willfulness, Belt concedes “that a single instance of", "paragraph_id": "para_670" }, { "text": "intoxication could be sufficient to establish removal, under the right set of facts,”", "paragraph_id": "para_671" }, { "text": "though he does not hypothesize what those facts might be. He simply disagrees", "paragraph_id": "para_672" }, { "text": "with the district court’s conclusion that his single instance of intoxication was", "paragraph_id": "para_673" }, { "text": "sufficient for removal. In legal terms, Belt is arguing that the district court failed", "paragraph_id": "para_674" }, { "text": "to properly balance the equities on both sides in deciding to remove him from", "paragraph_id": "para_675" }, { "text": "office. See Petty v. Mut. Benefit Life Ins., 15 N.W.2d 613, 618 (Iowa 1944) (“A court", "paragraph_id": "para_676" }, { "text": "26", "paragraph_id": "para_677" }, { "text": "of equity seeks to do justice between the parties by penetrating to the very", "paragraph_id": "para_678" }, { "text": "substance of the matter.”).", "paragraph_id": "para_679" }, { "text": "On our de novo review of the record, we disagree because we conclude that", "paragraph_id": "para_680" }, { "text": "Belt’s removal best protects public interests. See Watkins, 914 N.W.2d at 839", "paragraph_id": "para_681" }, { "text": "(“[Removal proceedings] are meant to protect public interests,” and they “exist to", "paragraph_id": "para_682" }, { "text": "provide a remedy when the misconduct is serious enough that waiting until the", "paragraph_id": "para_683" }, { "text": "next election is inadequate.”). According to Belt, his history of being “a capable,", "paragraph_id": "para_684" }, { "text": "hard-working public servant for over 20 years” outweighs his “10 minutes of", "paragraph_id": "para_685" }, { "text": "awkwardness at the town hall,” which he maintains is “lightweight” compared to", "paragraph_id": "para_686" }, { "text": "the conduct of the intoxicated public officials in Henderson and Welsh. Frankly,", "paragraph_id": "para_687" }, { "text": "Belt downplays the situation. He made a mockery of the town hall, and that", "paragraph_id": "para_688" }, { "text": "“10 minutes of awkwardness” extended well beyond that time frame when the", "paragraph_id": "para_689" }, { "text": "story became news.", "paragraph_id": "para_690" }, { "text": "As the county attorney aptly summarized during closing argument,", "paragraph_id": "para_691" }, { "text": "[Belt] brought shame to his office and to the county. He has", "paragraph_id": "para_692" }, { "text": "put co-workers, department heads, elected officials, private citizens", "paragraph_id": "para_693" }, { "text": "through this entire process. He has a right to do that, but he’s taken", "paragraph_id": "para_694" }, { "text": "no responsibility for his actions.", "paragraph_id": "para_695" }, { "text": "If Scott Belt the day after the town hall would have said, “I", "paragraph_id": "para_696" }, { "text": "made a mistake. I had a bad day. I’ve had some family stress. I’ve", "paragraph_id": "para_697" }, { "text": "had some mental health problems. I’m going to get some help, but I", "paragraph_id": "para_698" }, { "text": "would really like to continue to serve the Pottawattamie County", "paragraph_id": "para_699" }, { "text": "citizens,” that would have made my job tougher. I would have had", "paragraph_id": "para_700" }, { "text": "to have a hard swallow about whether this petition for removal gets", "paragraph_id": "para_701" }, { "text": "filed, but that’s not what happened.", "paragraph_id": "para_702" }, { "text": "I mean, he’s not taken responsibility for his actions. He has", "paragraph_id": "para_703" }, { "text": "disrupted county operations. He has distracted from a lot of the good", "paragraph_id": "para_704" }, { "text": "work of the county and the good events. He didn’t care enough to", "paragraph_id": "para_705" }, { "text": "show up today to half of his trial.", "paragraph_id": "para_706" }, { "text": "Moreover, we agree with the district court that he was acting in his official", "paragraph_id": "para_707" }, { "text": "capacity while he was intoxicated at the town hall. This is an aggravating factor", "paragraph_id": "para_708" }, { "text": "27", "paragraph_id": "para_709" }, { "text": "for Belt. And though the district court concluded that the State failed to prove", "paragraph_id": "para_710" }, { "text": "its four additional allegations of intoxication by “clear, convincing, satisfactory”", "paragraph_id": "para_711" }, { "text": "evidence, the unrebutted testimony from the witnesses regarding these", "paragraph_id": "para_712" }, { "text": "allegations indicates to us that Belt’s intoxication at the town hall was not an", "paragraph_id": "para_713" }, { "text": "isolated event. Several witnesses testified that Belt had become more aggressive", "paragraph_id": "para_714" }, { "text": "and difficult to work with in the time aligning with those other allegations. An", "paragraph_id": "para_715" }, { "text": "affidavit from the county human resources director that was filed with the", "paragraph_id": "para_716" }, { "text": "removal petition stated that she had “received recent complaints from several", "paragraph_id": "para_717" }, { "text": "county employees about alleged verbally abusive and bullying conduct by", "paragraph_id": "para_718" }, { "text": "Supervisor Scott Belt” leading up to the town hall.", "paragraph_id": "para_719" }, { "text": "Additionally, the record is unrebutted that Belt consumed two double", "paragraph_id": "para_720" }, { "text": "shots of Bailey’s at breakfast before heading into class sessions of the NAC", "paragraph_id": "para_721" }, { "text": "conference in Washington, D.C., a conference that the taxpayers of", "paragraph_id": "para_722" }, { "text": "Pottawattamie County were presumably paying him to attend. While there may", "paragraph_id": "para_723" }, { "text": "be debate about whether Belt was intoxicated at the time, the behavior was", "paragraph_id": "para_724" }, { "text": "inappropriate and consistent with that of someone who had an unaddressed", "paragraph_id": "para_725" }, { "text": "drinking problem. Likewise, Belt’s behavior during the September 2025 event", "paragraph_id": "para_726" }, { "text": "was such that one witness who attended the event “flippantly remarked” to his", "paragraph_id": "para_727" }, { "text": "colleague upon leaving, “ ‘Hey, let’s get in the car before [Belt] is out there,’", "paragraph_id": "para_728" }, { "text": "because, obviously, we would be heading to the same [area]” and did not want", "paragraph_id": "para_729" }, { "text": "to be on the road at the same time as Belt.", "paragraph_id": "para_730" }, { "text": "Removal “is heroic in nature and relatively drastic in a system where the", "paragraph_id": "para_731" }, { "text": "usual method of removing officeholders is by resort to the ballot.” Watkins,", "paragraph_id": "para_732" }, { "text": "914 N.W.2d at 839 (quoting Bartz, 224 N.W.2d at 638). It should be used only", "paragraph_id": "para_733" }, { "text": "“when the misconduct is serious enough that waiting until the next election is", "paragraph_id": "para_734" }, { "text": "inadequate.” Id. For the reasons explained above, the record in this case meets", "paragraph_id": "para_735" }, { "text": "28", "paragraph_id": "para_736" }, { "text": "that high standard necessary for the removal of Belt from his elected office for", "paragraph_id": "para_737" }, { "text": "intoxication under Iowa Code section 66.1A(6). Accordingly, we affirm the", "paragraph_id": "para_738" }, { "text": "judgment of the district court.", "paragraph_id": "para_739" }, { "text": "IV. Conclusion.", "paragraph_id": "para_740" }, { "text": "We affirm the district court’s removal of Belt from his position on the", "paragraph_id": "para_741" }, { "text": "Pottawattamie County Board of Supervisors.", "paragraph_id": "para_742" }, { "text": "District court judgment affirmed.", "paragraph_id": "para_743" } ], "word_count": 8328, "cites": [], "cited_by": [], "sha256": "67ff4ee144ae8f37b458594d8721c75b154d72f5d250d9cf2844c6abf6f0b552", "source_url": "https://www.iowacourts.gov/courtcases/26919/embed/SupremeCourtOpinion", "fetched_at": "2026-10-06T07:16:07.854+00:00", "canonical": "https://legal.exploreworldai.com/ai/judgments/us/iowa-25-2197-2026-10-02", "risk_graph": "https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/risk?id=us:iowa-25-2197-2026-10-02", "relations_graph": "https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/relations?id=us:iowa-25-2197-2026-10-02", "changes": "https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/us-praxis/changes", "agent": "https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/us-praxis/agent?id=us:iowa-25-2197-2026-10-02", "verification": { "stored_sha256": "67ff4ee144ae8f37b458594d8721c75b154d72f5d250d9cf2844c6abf6f0b552", "recomputed_sha256": "67ff4ee144ae8f37b458594d8721c75b154d72f5d250d9cf2844c6abf6f0b552", "intact": true, "checked_at": "2026-10-08T11:03:38.113Z" } }, "hash": "sha256:226f3bcc2674f570037730799e1d1c005d47dc347f5d6e1f5c045701bbb4ee65", "version": "legal-2026-10-08", "expires": "2026-10-09T00:00:00.000Z", "dependency": { "index_version": "legal-2026-10-08+legal-2026-10-08+2026-10-08T10:47:01", "content_hash": "sha256:226f3bcc2674f570037730799e1d1c005d47dc347f5d6e1f5c045701bbb4ee65", "revalidate_after": "2026-10-08T12:03:38.305Z", "max_copy_age_seconds": 3600, "policy": "revalidate-required; attribution-preferred", "changelog": "https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/dependency", "verify": "https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/verify", "stale_copy_invalid": true }, "canonical": "https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/judgment-text?id=us:iowa-25-2197-2026-10-02", "disclaimer": "Source reference with official identifier. 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