Kunkel officially unopposed in Johnson County Sheriff’s race

Lang
9/6/20

Detective Brad Kunkel will officially be unopposed as he continues his run for Johnson County Sheriff.

That’s according to the Johnson County Auditor’s Office, which confirms all the deadlines have passed for another candidate to get on the ballot as a Republican, an independent or a member of another party.

Kunkel’s only opposition was in the June Democratic primary, where he easily defeated Cedar Rapids Police Sergeant Al Fear, who lives in Swisher. Kunkel drew 82% of the vote.

Kunkel is a former Solon City Council member and University of Iowa graduate who joined the Sheriff’s office in 2001 and has moved up the ranks from a jail deputy to member of the patrol division, to patrol sergeant and, currently, to investigations. He announced his plans to run for sheriff in May of last year, shortly after current sheriff Lonny Pulkrabek announced he would be retiring at the end of this year. Pulkrabek is running against incumbent Bobby Kaufmann of Wilton for the Iowa House in District 73, which includes parts of Johnson and Muscatine and all of Cedar County.

The election is set for November 3rd.