MEET TRACY LENZ 
for Primghar City Council 
Most people in Primghar know me, Tracy (Whitehead) Lenz. 
I have lived in Primghar since November 1997. But before that time 
I worked at the Baum Harmon Hospital from May 1993 until 2005, and  
most recently at Mercy Medical Center from November 2015 to January 2023 as a Lab Technician. 
I have 4 children, Dustin, Brandi, Kari, and Hannah who have all graduated from South O’Brien School. So I have had a child, or two, in the local school system from 1993 through 2022. They were all active in school and church and worked in local businesses while in school.  
I am a member of Primghar Church of Christ. I allow my heart to be guided by God.  
I am a Downtown Primghar businesswoman. I have been since July 2011 when I bought the local flower shop and named it Blooms & Heirlooms. I loved the business but mostly loved getting to know the citizens of Primghar that would stop in to shop and many just stopped to chat. Unfortunately, in Oct 2015 I had to close the flower shop due to Larry being very sick and unable to work anymore. We needed health insurance and a steady income to just survive through his disabling work injury and heart issue.  
In 2017 I decided to utilize my empty downtown building and opened it back up as MaMa’s Hen House, Bed & Breakfast. It is a small B&B which caters to women traveling alone to have a safe place to stay while traveling. I love to meet new people and I love to cook, especially breakfast items.  
I also am known to make crafts, mostly wood things but I love to repurpose anything that catches my eye. I repurpose and repaint or refinish furniture of all kinds. I am currently working on setting up my RED BARN that is located behind my Bed & Breakfast so that I have a nice place to not only work on pieces of furniture for people but to also display other furniture that will be for sale.  
NOW as to why I want to run for Primghar City Council. I was always taught to give back to your community if possible. So, I would like to try to bring some new businesses into our empty buildings downtown and rejuvenate our economy.  
Also, I see and am told daily about situations that happen in our town that cause bad feelings between our citizens and the present and past City Councils. It bothers many in our community that things don’t always seem fair, different rules for different people, depending on WHO you are. I have personally been on the other side of what is fair since 2016 to April 2023, with our City Council. It’s not right nor fair.  
I’m not saying we need new rules, maybe clarify a few, but a City Council and any Boards underneath them should all be following the written rules as written.  
I have seen some people just be talked to about a situation, then some get a letter to appear in front of the City Council, some just immediately get served Abatement papers by a Deputy Sheriff and some have gotten a SEARCH WARRANT served on them by a Deputy Sheriff that the Abatement Office (a Lawyer) is allowed to go into personal property without ever being talked to by the City Council 1st !    
This is so wrong. And then that Lawyer can just make up what ever he wants for rules of what people must do on their personal property. Examples, having to side your house, painting it not allowed!!! Must replace kitchen cupboards vs fixing and painting and HAVING to install a dishwasher! 
I have personally been fined for something as simple as a not getting a  
SIGN PERMIT, something that I’m sure no one in town even knew was a thing. Yet in court it came out that 24 other signs in town since 2018 were not fined nor required to get a Sign Permit.  
Building Permit rules are not followed by everyone the same, depending upon who you are. And I could go on and on about the injustices I see.  
I hear many people complain yet never show up to City Council meetings to have a voice and to hear what is talked about. People need to come out and attend meetings, and Yes there are Meetings after the Meeting going on too which is not allowed by law.  
I want to be the voice of the citizens at meetings. I have had to learn both the City Ordinance and Zoning Ordinance books backwards and forwards to defend myself from injustices. I make the promise that anyone can come to me, and I will listen, I will look into things, and I will give you an answer. You may not always like the answer, but my answer will be according to the city rules or Code of Iowa rules.  
I am running so that I can have a say, to be a voice for the community citizens, to see that things being done by the laws set out by the City and State.  I encourage all to come out and vote, and I hope that you give me your vote so that we can move forward with making Primghar a great town to live, work and play in for ALL citizens.                                
 Thank You,  
 Tracy (Whitehead) Lenz