Rick has spent much of his life working at the intersection of public service, economic development, and community partnership. Now, after retiring from a three-decade career leading Greater Dubuque Development Corporation, he is asking voters for another opportunity to serve.
A Career Built Around Bringing People Together
Rick grew up in Sabula, Iowa, as the oldest of seven children. His experience in public service began in 1978, when he was elected mayor of his hometown. He later served on the Sabula City Council, spent six years as a Jackson County supervisor, and represented Iowa’s 34th House District in the Iowa Legislature from 1990 to 1994.
In 1995, Rick became president and CEO of Greater Dubuque Development Corporation, a position he held until his retirement in January 2026. During those years, he worked alongside businesses, local governments, educational institutions, nonprofits, and community leaders to strengthen the regional economy.
Those partnerships helped advance projects including the Port of Dubuque, industrial parks, expanded broadband access, housing initiatives, and the Bright Minds Campus. Rick also helped develop Business Champions for Child Care, a public-private effort created to address one of the region’s most persistent workforce challenges.
His career has taught him that meaningful progress rarely comes from one person or organization acting alone. It comes from people sitting down together, identifying shared goals, and staying focused on solutions.
“I know that progress comes from collaboration, respect, and focusing on solutions versus differences,” Rick says.
Watch: Rick Dickinson for County Supervisor
Why He’s Running
Rick says his campaign is not about beginning a new career. It is about putting everything he has learned over a lifetime of work and public service to use for Dubuque County.
“I am not starting a career in public service; I’m completing one,” he says. “In the next four years, I will use everything I have learned in my life to serve the people of Dubuque County.”
He is running to help restore professionalism to the Board of Supervisors and encourage a culture centered on thoughtful decision-making, mutual respect, and measurable results.
Rick believes the board should work more closely with county employees and local partners to improve services, reduce unnecessary duplication, and plan responsibly for the future. He has placed particular emphasis on cooperation with the Sheriff’s Department, firefighters, emergency medical services, and volunteer fire and ambulance personnel.
He also wants county government to be more accessible to the people it serves. Rick supports considering weekly board meetings and periodically holding meetings in communities throughout Dubuque County rather than conducting all of the board’s business at the courthouse.
For Rick, access and transparency are essential to earning public trust.
“Better access creates better government,” he says.
Three Things You Might Not Know About Rick
A long career in public service is only part of Rick’s story. Here are three glimpses of life outside the meeting room.
1. He’s has seven grandchildren
Growing up in a large family meant learning early how to listen, compromise, share responsibility, and make sure every voice had a chance to be heard. Rick and his wife, Rae Ann, now have two daughters and seven grandchildren.
2. He is willing to take responsibility for the holiday turkey
Rick is experienced in dealing with things like budgets, public meetings, and policy discussions, but he’s also at home in the kitchen!
3. He knows a good day can be measured in fish
Rick loves being out in nature – especially when it involves fishing.
Experience Put to Work
Rick’s argument to voters is not simply that he has experience. It is that experience should be put to work.
He understands county government from the perspective of a former supervisor. He understands state government from his time in the Iowa Legislature. He understands employers, workforce needs, economic growth, and public-private partnerships from three decades at Greater Dubuque Development.
He believes those experiences can help Dubuque County strengthen services, support its workforce and employers, stand with rural communities, expand its tax base, and prepare responsibly for the future.
Most of all, Rick says county government should function the way residents expect it to: thoughtfully, respectfully, and effectively.
After a career spent bringing people and organizations together, he is ready to bring that approach to the Dubuque County Board of Supervisors.
Candidate Information
Campaign website: rick4dbqsupervisor.com