Nathan Lein is a public servant through and through. He has dedicated two decades to Fayette County as the Assistant County Attorney and now four more years as County Attorney ensuring justice is served, whether it’s a complex criminal case or a fence dispute; he has handled the full spectrum of legal challenges and has earned the trust of Fayette County residents, having served much of his career alongside retired County Attorney W. Wayne Saur.

His career is defined by the same values he learned growing up on his family’s farm near Arlington – hard work, loyalty, and commitment. Those are the same values that motivated his decision to run for Fayette County Attorney.

Because of his deep roots in rural Iowa, he also knows the challenges it faces. He has watched the mental health system deteriorate over his career, leaving courts and jails to shoulder responsibilities they were never designed to carry. He has seen the effects of corporate and agricultural consolidation resulting in the well-documented “brain drain” that has hollowed out rural communities. His own determination to stay — to keep the family farm going and to serve the county he loves — reflects his belief that rural Iowa deserves better, and that meaningful change begins locally.

Nathan’s approach to justice is also shaped by compassion and common sense. He has seen firsthand how substance abuse and mental health issues contribute to low-level offenses and has long been an advocate for programs that give people the opportunity to change their trajectories without carrying lifelong criminal records. Nathan has learned that accountability and justice do not begin and end at incarceration.

As County Attorney, Nathan will commit to maintaining stability in the office, recruiting fresh legal talent, and ensuring the county government receives sound legal advice. He understands the urgency of building a bench for future generations who call Fayette County home.