Time to file for local city elections

Three elected positions in the city of Red Oak will be on the general election in November, and other local cities will have council and mayor seats up for grabs as well.

The period to file nomination papers to run for city offices opened last week. It closes on Thursday, Sept. 21, at 5 p.m. To get on the ballot in your jurisdiction, you have to collect valid signatures on a petition and file that petition before the deadline. The number of signatures required varies via a formula, and you can get information about that by calling the county auditor. In Montgomery County, that’s 712-623-5127. The petition forms can be found at sos.iowa.gov/elections/electioninfo/cityelections.html or at the county auditor’s office.

The city general election is Tuesday, Nov. 7.

Red Oak

In Red Oak, Mayor Bill Billings’ seat is on the ballot. The Red Oak mayoral term is for two years. Seats held by at-large council member Roger Waggener and Ward 2 council member Bill Haufle are also on the ballot. The council terms are for four years.

Villisca

The mayor’s seat and two council seats are on the ballot this year, as well as a vacancy to complete an uncompleted term.

Mayor Marilyn Halda and council members Helen Lowe and Richard Mullin will have their seats on the ballot. Due to a resignation, the council last week appointed Curtis Gaunt to fill an unexpired term so a special election would not be necessary. That seat, however, is required to be on the ballot at the next regular city election.

Stanton

Three at-large council seats, currently held by Dan Allen, Sheryl Porter and Eric Paulson, are on the ballot.

Grant

The positions held by Mayor Andrea Holldorf and council members Nancy Taylor, Lynn Sliger, Mike Amos, Steve Williams and Jeff Brown are all on the ballot.

Emerson

Seats held by Mayor Dave Galley and council members Ann Roth and Phil Kudron are up for election.

Essex

Two at-large council seats, held by Marian Durfey and Rich Dailey, will be on the ballot in Essex. Mayor Russell Hilker is also up for election this year, but has decided not to seek re-election. All of the terms are for four years.

Elliott

The mayor’s seat and three at-large council seats are on the ballot.

Coburg

The mayor’s seat and two at-large council seats are on the ballot.

Deadlines

The deadline to preregister to vote in the regular election is 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 27. This applies to registration in person (including registration at driver’s license stations or agencies) or by mail. After that date, a person may register to vote at the auditor’s office and vote an absentee ballot that same day. The process is the same for registering to vote on election day and specific documentation must be provided.

The auditor’s office prefers that you register before election day. The office is opne Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Friday, Nov. 3, at 5 p.m., is the deadline to request an absentee ballot to be mailed.

On election day, the polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Montgomery County polling places are the Red Oak Gold Fair Building for Red Oak Ward (aka precinct) 1; Red Oak Fire Station for Red Oak Ward 2; First Christian Church for Red Oak Ward 3; Elliott Community Building for Precinct 4; Grant Fire Station for Precinct 5; Stanton Fire Department for Precinct 6; and Villisca Community Betterment for Precinct 7.