Filing period for Nov. 2 city and school board elections is now open

By Bob Steenson, bsteenson@charlescitypress.com

The filing period to run for the city and school board election in November opened up Monday.

The last day to file for a school board, city council or mayoral seat in area school districts and cities is 5 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 16.

In Charles City, the City Council seats currently occupied by Jerry Joerger and DeLaine Freeseman are up for election. Joerger has previously indicated he will not seek re-election.

The term of Mayor Dean Andrews is also up for election.

For the Charles City School District, the seats of Josh Mack, Scott Dight and Missy Freund are up for election.

Seats are also open on the other city council and school district boards of education in the county.

This will be the second election where city and school board votes are combined after the Legislature changed the law effective in 2019. Previously school board elections had been in September. Also, all people will vote at the same polling places where they vote for governor or president in even-year elections.

The election will be Nov. 2.

City office candidates must file an affidavit of candidacy and submit a nominating petition to the county auditor’s office.

Nomination petitions must contain at least 25 signatures of eligible electors for cities of populations of 3,500 or greater, or at yeast 10 signatures for cities between 100 and 3,499 population, or five signatures for cities with a population of 99 or fewer.

More information is available at the Floyd County Auditor’s Office or at the Secretary of State Office website, sos.iowa.gov/elections/candidates/.

School board candidates must filed an affidavit of candidacy and nominating petition with the school district secretary. Forms are available from the school secretary, the county auditor’s office or on the Secretary of State Office website.

For school districts with fewer than 1,000 registered voters, a petition with at least 10 signatures is required. For school districts with more than 1,000 registered voters, the minimum number of signatures is 1% of the registered voters or 50, whichever is less.