Shenandoah’s Mayor has suspended his campaign for governor following his involvement in a traffic accident that killed another driver. Pottawattamie County authorities say Shenandoah Mayor Gregg Connell ran a stop sign on a county road at about three o’clock Tuesday afternoon and ran into a car traveling on a stretch of highway between Griswold and Carson. The 51-year-old Atlantic man who was the driver of that other car was killed in the crash.
The Iowa Democratic Party released a statement from Connell’s family late Wednesday. Connell’s family called it a tragedy and said the mayor is “devastated” by the event. The statement said Connell “profoundly regrets” David Juhl’s death, and “extends his heartfelt sympathy” to Juhl’s family.
The statement went on to say that Connell “does not drink alcohol” and “wishes to end any speculation that alcohol may have been a factor in the accident.” Connell has suspended his campaigning “until further notice.”