5 people running for 3 seats on Charles City Council; 3 running for 2 seats on school board

By Bob Steenson, bsteenson@charlescitypress.com

There will be several contested elections for city council and school board seats in Floyd County in November, including a five-way race for three seats on the Charles City Council.

Filing to run for offices closed Thursday, and there will be at least a couple of new people sitting on area boards and councils beginning next year, as several current office-holders decided to not seek re-election.

In Charles City, the terms of Keith Starr, Michael Hammond and Dan Mallaro are up on the City Council. Of the incumbents, only Starr filed papers to seek another term, so there will be at least two new City Council members elected.

Five people including Starr are seeking one of the three council seats. The other candidates are Phillip Knighten, Phoebe Pitman, Craig Hamm and Ann Teeter

Beginning this year, school board elections are being held along with the city elections in November, instead of in their own separate elections in September as in the past.

On the Charles City Board of Education, the terms of Robin Macomber and Jason Walker are up this year, and Macomber, currently the board president, has filed to run for re-election.

Walker did not file, meaning at least his seat will be filled by someone new.

Those filing for the Charles City School District Board of Education seats are Macomber, Janiece Bergland and Patricia Rottinghaus.

Other contested elections, where there are more candidates filed than there are seats available, are for Floyd City Council, Marble Rock City Council and Rudd mayor.

Absentee voting in the election will begin on Oct. 7.

Here is the list of candidates filing for the Tuesday, Nov. 5, election in Floyd County, according to information from the Floyd County Auditor’s Office for city elections and from the school board secretaries for school elections.

Current office-holders who are seeking re-election are listed with [i] for incumbent:

Charles City
• Council (3 seats) – Keith Starr [i], Phillip Knighten, Phoebe Pitman, Craig Hamm, Ann Teeter.

Charles City School District
• Director (2 seats) – Robin Macomber [i], Janiece Bergland, Patricia Rottinghaus.

Colwell
• Mayor – no one filed.
• Council (5 seats) – no one filed.

Floyd
• Mayor – Trevis K. O’Connell [i].
• Council (3 seats) – Cleone King [i], Merlin Holtz [i], Michael Miller [i], Jeremy Stewart.

Marble Rock
• Mayor – Jerry Engelhardt [i].
• Council (2 seats) – John P. Marzen [i], Chad Schriever [i], Kaylah Schweizer.

Nora Springs
• Mayor – Randy Hassman [i].
• Council (3 seats) – Steve Blickenderfer [i], Brian Pederson [i], Robert W. Moen.

Rockford
• Mayor – Scott Johnson [i].
• Council (2 seats) – Corey Johnson [i], Carol J. Hoffarth.

Rudd
• Mayor – Donna M. Lunsford [i], Jeffrey C. Buland.
• Council (3 seats) – Karin Winters, Craig Reinke.

Rudd-Rockford-Marble Rock School District
• Director (3 seats) – Angie Johnson [i], Janette Lien [i], Heidi Marzen [i].