We felt it necessary this week to present to our readers what we know with regard to upcoming city and school elections.
Therefore, I’m dedicating my space to listing candidates for city council and school board in the Cedar County towns of Durant and Bennett; and the Muscatine County towns of Wilton, Stockton and Atalissa.
We’ve printed several notices about the change to elections this year. Due to new legislation at the state level, as listed on the Cedar County election website, “School elections which were typically held in September in odd-numbered years, have been combined with city elections and will be held in November of odd-numbered years. Voters will now vote in the county in which they reside. This includes elections for districts that cross county lines.”
As was told to us when the legislation was passed, moving our city and school elections from September to November — in other words combining them with general elections — is a way to get more voters to the polls. I couldn’t agree more. I think this is something our legislators got right.
With regard to school elections, candidates could begin filing Aug. 26 and had until Sept. 19 to do so. Sept. 24 was the deadline to withdraw. It must be noted that this is going to press hours before that deadline. Oct. 7 will be the first day to vote absentee, which can be done through Nov. 4; Nov. 5 will be election day.
With regard to city elections, those important dates are the same.
I will now introduce the candidates that have turned in paperwork to run for city council, mayor and school board in our hometowns. In the coming weeks we will be contacting these people to get questionnaires done and pictures taken.
Cedar County
Bennett city election—Joe Sparks is the lone candidate for mayor; Sherry Bentrott*, Steven Boedeker* and Nicole Wolf are running for councilperson at-large. There are two open seats; Christina Eicher* is running for councilperson at-large to fill a vacancy.
There will also be the following question on the ballot: Shall the number of board of trustees of the Bennett Public Library be changed from nine members to five?
Bennett school election—Danielle Pratt* and Kaitlin Rasdon are running for director at-large. There are two open seats; Chad Petersen* is running for director at-large to fill vacancy.
Durant city election—Scott Spengler* is running for mayor uncontested; Noel Price and Kevin Mundt* are running uncontested for two seats on city council.
Durant school election—Tara Lindsay, Brad Utter, Benjamin Skriloff, Barb Reasner*, Carla Whitlock and Travis Bullard are running for school board. There are three open seats.
* Denotes incumbents.
Muscatine County
Atalissa city election—Bob Schmidt is running uncontested for mayor; Tim Dewar and Timothy DeVore are running for city council. There are three open seats so write-in would come into play.
Stockton city election—Andrew Reams and Patrick Baker are running for mayor; Glenn Van Dee, Robert Russell, Josh Smyser, Scott Wolf and Tina Riley are running for three open city council seats; Jay Freund is running to fill an unexpired term on council.
Wilton city election—Bob Barrett and Corey Freeman are running for mayor; Sheryl Lenker, Ted Marolf, Wayne Budding, Michael Rohwer and Jim Driscoll are running for three open city council seats.
Wilton school election—Linda Duncan, Tim Barrett, Ginny Harris and Jeremy Lies are running for three open school board seats.
There you have it. If for some reason one of these candidates decided in the last couple hours to withdraw, these lists are subject to change. Otherwise, let me say to all candidates, we admire your choice and desire to run. I look forward to communicating with all of you.
