Voting privacy screens set up in the Elberon Community Building during a special school election held last March. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

TAMA COUNTY – The deadline to file as a candidate for the Tuesday, Nov. 7 city and school elections came and went last week with mostly incumbents vying for local seats alongside several newcomers.

For the second time in as many municipal elections, Union Community Schools’ District 1 seat saw no candidate file. Similarly, in the town of Clutier, not a single candidate filed for either council or mayor.

“If no one runs for an office, it is open to write ins,” Tama County Elections Administrator Karen Rohrs told Tama-Grundy Publishing in an email.

If an individual elected by the most write-in votes declines the seat in a city election, however, several steps ensue.

The write-in candidate may submit a letter of resignation to the city clerk by 5 p.m. on the 10th day following the official canvass. If that does not happen within 10 days — and the winner fails to take the oath of office by the beginning of the new term — the office is considered vacant.

Union Community School District’s director district map including District 1 for which no candidates filed to run in the 2023 city/school election. IMAGE COURTESY OF THE BLACK HAWK COUNTY AUDITOR’S OFFICE

But if a letter of resignation is submitted within the time frame after the final canvass, the individual who received the next-highest number of write-in votes is notified and allowed to accept the seat.

If this second highest vote-getter declines, however, the city council may appoint someone to the office within 60 days of the vacancy, according to Iowa Code.

Union Community School District

The Union school board has four seats up for election this fall including seats in District 1, District 3, District 4, and At-Large.

In an echo of the 2021 election, no candidate filed for the District 1 seat that expires in 2023 and is currently held by board member Brandon Paine. The seat encompasses portions of the Black Hawk County precinct Big Creek/Spring Creek/La Porte City including the city of La Porte as well as the immediate surrounding area bordered by Kober Road to the west and East Eagle Road to the north, while roughly following the Cedar River to King Road in the east. The Black Hawk-Benton county line provides the district’s southern boundary.

During the 2021 election, current District 1 Director Reid Carlson mounted a write-in campaign for his seat and subsequently accepted the office.

It remains to be seen if this is how the empty spot on Union’s ballot will be addressed during the 2023 election.

Incumbents Corey Lorenzen of La Porte City and Ben Schemmel of Dysart filed paperwork for their At-Large and District 4 seats, respectively, while newcomer Carleen McGivern of Dysart filed for the District 3 seat currently held by Jenna Scott who did not file.

North Tama Community School District

The North Tama school board has three seats up for election including District 5, District 6, and District 7. Incumbents Doug Dvorak of Clutier and David Boldt of Traer filed paperwork for the District 6 and District 7 seats, respectively, while newcomer Jenny Sniffin of Traer filed for the District 5 seat currently held by Valerie Bradley who did not file.

Dysart city election

In the city of Dysart, the mayor and two city council seats are on the ballot this year. Incumbents Stacey Dabney and Mary Wankowicz were the only candidates to file for the two, four-year term seats, while Mayor Glenn was the only candidate to file for the mayor’s four-year term seat.

Traer city election

In the city of Traer a contested election is shaping up for the position of mayor with both incumbent mayor Peter Holden and challenger Kennan Seda filing paperwork for the two-year term seat.

On the ballot for city council, a contested election is also heating up with five candidates filing for three, four-year term seats including incumbents Carri Holst and Patrisha Kennedy, as well as newcomers Derek Gaydos, Brad E. Rund, and Chad Taylor. Incumbent city councilor Matt Rausch elected not to run again.

Clutier city election

In the city of Clutier, the entire city council’s five, two-year term seats as well as the two-year term office of mayor are on the ballot this year. No candidates filed paperwork for any of the seats.

Elberon city election

In the city of Elberon, two, four-year term city council seats and the mayor’s two-year term seat are up for election. Incumbents filed paperwork for both the council seats and the mayor’s office including city councilors Nancy Braasch and Donald Curry, and Mayor Scott Pippert.