Scaturico touts business, management strengths

Cindy Scaturico says she would bring strong business and management experience to the Carroll County Board of Supervisors if she’s elected to fill the 5th District seat in a special election Tuesday, Feb. 7.

Scaturico cites having more than 20 years of experience in manufacturing operations management.

Carroll County Republican Party’s news release this month announcing Scaturico’s nomination said she has extensive background in manufacturing working with Hormel, Butterball and Smithfield Foods.

The release said, “She is results-driven and a highly organized professional with experience in operations management, safety and environmental sustainability.”

Scaturico says she offers a “track record of successful project management that resulted in considerable cost savings and cost avoidance.”

Also, she noted, “successful collective-bargaining negotiations and management with a record of zero grievances filed.”

“The best way to solve a problem,” she says, “is to keep it from happening. Relationships are key to any successful business.”

Scaturico says she has ample experience in supervision of personnel through managing large groups of people, the ability to achieve quantifiable results through effective teamwork and motivation.

“I believe in being a mentor and building relationships through trust, caring and credibility,” she says. “These are key attributes of a great manager.”

The Republicans’ announcement of her candidacy says she has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Robert Morris University in Chicago and is a candidate for a mater’s in natural resources sustainability from Virginia Tech University.

Scaturico says of issues facing Carroll County that budgeting is always a main focus.

“We need to prioritize spending to accomplish more with less, separate wants from needs to ensure we are being good stewards of taxpayer money,” she says.

Scaturico listed what she believes are qualities of a good supervisor:

— Desire to improve county government.

— Being able to see the big picture of the budget.

— Ability to be flexible when assigned to subcommittees that may or may not be their area of expertise.

— Being able to own an issue on behalf of the citizens of the county.

She also quotes the Certified Iowa County Supervisor definition, saying a good county supervisor’s duty is to “protect and preserve the rights, privileges and property of the county or of its residents, and to preserve and improve the peace, safety, health, welfare, comfort and convenience of its residents.”

Scaturico says she wants to be of service to the Carroll County community.

Scaturico, 47, and her husband, Peter, moved to Carroll a year ago when he became plant manager for Monogram Foods in Denison. Cindy and Peter have three daughters: Chelsea, 28, who’s a department manager for Pella Corp. in Carroll; Gracey 19; and Sophia, 10. They also have four grandchildren.

While serving as environmental coordinator for Smithfield Foods, Scaturico says, she led the plant’s team in a storm-debris cleanup at Carroll City Cemetery.

“After a damaging storm came through Carroll last July, the cemetery was left with large limbs, small branches and leaves,” she says. “Our team coordinated with the director of Parks and Recreation for cleanup and disposal. We had more people show up than expected, and everyone was glad to help. We even received a nice thank-you letter from Mayor (Mark) Beardmore.

“The Smithfield team also received an environmental award for water savings during an environmental conference in Atlanta, Georgia. This award came with a $3,000 check to donate to our choice of charitable causes. Our team chose to divide between the Carroll Fire Department and Animal Rescue of Carroll.” Scaturico has been an Animal Rescue of Carroll volunteer.

Scaturico says she’s toured the Carroll City Wastewater Plant with the facility’s superintendent to become more knowledgeable about that process.

She says she also came together with representatives from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources to contain a water-main break at the Smithfield plant, minimizing the impact to waterways in the area.

She volunteered at the Republican District Convention in April and served as a poll watcher in last November’s general election.

She adds that teaming with “some hard-working and dedicated ladies” they’ve brought back the Republican Women’s Club, and Scaturico is currently the club’s president.

She’s running against Democrat Tim Tracy for the seat, which opened with the resignation of Rich Ruggles due to health reasons.

The 5th District consists of the northeast section of the city of Carroll. The candidates must live in the district; however, all voters in the county cast ballots on the position.