An important date in the timeline of the fall elections in Iowa for city councils and school boards arrives on Thursday, which is the deadline for candidates to file to be on the November ballot.
The deadline for filing nomination papers comes at 5 p.m. Thursday, when candidates must file with the city clerk and school district offices. Those who file by that time will have their names printed on the Nov. 7 ballot.
Throughout Iowa, this election will set the composition for school boards and city councils, plus some mayor positions. Those elected entities handle important tasks, such as setting annual budgets that use taxpayer money, hiring employees and setting priorities for how the cities and school districts operate.
While Election Day is Nov. 7, there will be an in-person early voting option for the school board and city council positions in Woodbury County, explained Steve Hofmeyer of the Woodbury County Auditor’s Office. The early voting will be in one location, at the Woodbury County Courthouse, beginning on Oct. 18.
This more limited version of early voting is different from an even-numbered year when the so-called general election involves contests for federal, state and county governmental elections.
For the city of Sioux City, there are two positions going before voters, including that of mayor, where incumbent Mayor Bob Scott is running unopposed, and one city council seat.
The Sioux City Council has a slightly different system than many Iowa towns, called a primary system, for determining its council members. When there are more than two people running for a position, an extra primary election is held one month earlier to narrow the field to two people.
That’s the case this year, as three people are running for one Sioux City Council seat. Those people are incumbent Councilwoman Julie Schoenherr, plus candidates Tricia Frederick and Tom Murphy.
The Sioux City primary election with those three will be held on October 10, and early voting will take place at the Woodbury County Courthouse, beginning Wednesday, September 20. Hofmeyer said people have already begun calling to request that early mailed ballots be sent to them for the city council primary contest.
The other three members of the Sioux City Council have two more years on their four-year terms and their terms expire in 2025.
There are five positions on the Sioux City School Board going before voters. Current members Phil Hamman and Dsn Greenwell are running for re-election, while Bernie Scolaro, Monique Scarlett, and Taylor Goodwin are not.
There are no contests on the ballot in South Dakota and Nebraska this fall, the school boards and municipal elections are tied in with the even-year general elections.
Additionally, the Republican governors of 25 states on Tuesday sent a letter to the administration of President Biden seeking answers to where undocumented migrants are being relocated.
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds and Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen signed the letter. Pillen said Biden needs to address the crisis at the Southern border with Mexico and provide states with accurate information on border crossing statistics.
Reynolds said states are the front lines, where food pantries are having trouble having enough food, shelters are full, and law enforcement personnel are strained.
“As governors, we call on you to provide honest, accurate, detailed information on where the migrants admitted at the southern border are being relocated in the United States,” Reynolds said in a statement.
