JOHNSTON, Iowa — The three Johnston candidates who have been reprimanded by the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board are weighing in on the board’s campaign ethics ruling.

This comes after a citizen complaint filed on October 17 alleged that the ACCO Unlimited Corporation in Johnston violated Iowa Code section 68A.406. The corporation displayed candidate campaign signs for Alicia Penner, Patrick Green, and Connor Christenson on corporate property. All three candidates are supported by the Johnston Area Republicans.

The complaint was filed by Sara Hayden Parris, a Johnston resident and parent of two children in the district. She is also the president and founder of Annie’s Foundation, an Iowa nonprofit that provides free access to books that have been challenged or banned.

The board initially met on Monday to open an investigation into the complaint. The board met again on Tuesday, where they unanimously voted to reprimand Alicia Penner, Patrick Green, and Connor Christenson, along with the president of ACCO, Cris Christenson.

According to the board, the signs were removed on Tuesday, but board members still decided to reprimand the candidates.

WHO 13 News received statements from all three candidates on the board’s decision.

Alicia Penner:

“I appreciate the opportunity to clarify this matter with a statement below. 

The Iowa Campaign Board recently reviewed a campaign matter involving sign placement. There was no bad intent, and after being notified, the signs were voluntarily removed before the board meeting yesterday evening. I will make myself available to the Board should they have any more questions.

I remain fully focused on what matters most which is our success and well-being of our students, staff, and families. I want to see continued growth and success for the Johnston Community School District.

I’m here for the long haul. As a mom with young children, we’re nowhere near graduation day. That means I have time to serve, grow, and advocate for our families. 

Thank you for your time and attention is, this will be my only statement regarding this matter. With six days until election day, I look forward to connecting with our community, sharing my vision to support our schools and prepare our most precious resources — our kids — for the future. Please join me in this journey.”

Connor Christenson:

“I feel that my family and I are being targeted over supposed “ethics violations” for my campaign signs by the same people who proudly cut ribbons for an organization that distributes books with explicit sexual content to minors under the banner of “diversity.”

Annie’s Foundation, co-founded by Sarah Hayden Parris and Kaycee Schippers, is the group behind Iowa’s recent push to reintroduce books that were removed from school libraries for containing graphic sexual descriptions.

Meanwhile, they label Turning Point USA, a Christian-based student organization that gives young conservatives a voice, as a “hate group.”

I disagree with the Board’s decision but have nonetheless taken down the signs. I believe our corporation – which has been in the Johnston community for over 50 years and spanning three generations of our family – was merely exercising its right to speak freely on issues of public importance. Neither the company nor I was influenced by any candidate or committee to put up the signs, nor do I feel any candidate or committee was put at an advantage or disadvantage as a result of the temporary sign placement. Beyond this statement, I do not intend to address the issue any further at this time, as I believe doing so would only draw further attention and distract from the issues voters will be voting on in upcoming elections

I’ll continue standing for parents, students, and families who believe that protecting kids and promoting ethics should mean the same thing on both sides.”

Patrick Green:

“On Friday, I spoke with the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Finance Board and was informed that a few campaign signs supporting our team were placed on property later determined by the IECFB to be ineligible for candidate signage.

There was no sense of urgency presented to me at that time. We discussed next steps: the Board would first meet to determine whether the complaint was ‘accepted.’ If accepted, it would then convene to decide whether the matter should advance to ‘administrative resolution’ or a ‘contested case.’

Instead—though the signs were removed, and without further communication—the IECFB proceeded directly to determining a consequence.

I did not place those signs myself and was unaware of their location until contacted by the Board. Once notified, I worked quickly to understand the situation and ensure it was resolved appropriately. The property owner had believed, based on legal input and prior interpretation over many years, that the site qualified for signage. The Board disagreed. The signs were removed prior to the Board’s final decision.

The Board issued a letter of reprimand only…no fines, no penalties, and no findings of intentional wrongdoing. I fully respect their process and consider the matter closed.

What’s concerning is that the complaint originated from an individual closely aligned with another candidate who is running against me in this race…someone who has also been active in the online attacks directed at our campaigns. While that candidate has not publicly called for the attacks to stop, another opposing candidate privately agreed with me last night that such behavior is not the right approach. Johnston voters deserve leadership that models respect, civility, and fairness…not personal or political targeting.

Let’s rise above the noise. Early voting is underway, and I’m asking our community to send a message that Johnston stands for integrity, reason, and respect…in both our classrooms and our campaigns.”