Oct 21, 2021 6:27 PM

City/School Elections Are Nov. 2; Absentee Voting Has Already Begun

Posted Oct 21, 2021 6:27 PM

By Beacon Staff

In-person absentee voting has started for the city/school election has started at the Des Moines County Courthouse, and will continue until Nov. 1.

The election itself will be Nov. 2., and the most advertised race is for three open city council seats.  There are currently six candidates vying for three open seats, including three incumbents: mayor Jon Billups, Matt Rinker, and mayor pro tem Lynda Graham Murray. The new candidates are Antonio Bailey, Christopher Roepke, and Terry A. Schnack.

Mailed absentee ballots must be received in the County Auditor’s Office by Nov. 2 at 8 p.m in order to be counted.  Please call the Des Moines County Auditor’s Office at 319-753-8232 if you have any questions. Monday, Oct. 18, was the last day to request an absentee ballot.

In Danville, Jerry Strause is running for mayor, and Stephanie Heater is running for city council.

In Mediapolis, Denise Dietrick, Monte Hawley, Chuck Massner, Miranda Pfeiff, and Troy Garrison are running for city council.

In Middletown, current mayor Eric Gerst is running for reelection, while Stephanie Gerst and Jordan Fidler are running for city council.

In West Burlington, Mayor Ron Teater is running for mayor, while Melanie Young, John Johnson, and Kathy Newberry are running for city council. Hans Trousil, who has been West Burlington mayor since  1993, is not seeking reelection.

Candidates for the Burlington School District include Darven Kendell, who is running for re-election. He is the only current school board member vying for his seat again. Other candidates include Tammy Anderson, Jennifer Lachenberg, Scott Mason, Jennifer Gibb, Christi Burghoffer, and Reyna Cadena.

Candidates for the Danville School District are Jon Paul Van Buskirk, Taylor Eisenmann, Jason Samples, and Sandy Dockendorff. Candidates for the Mediapolis School District are Richard Whitaker, Peter Pfeiff, John Witte, and Mark Schmidgall. Candidates for the West Burlington School District are Amanda Hancock and Bruce Thuleen. Candidates for the Southeastern Community College board are Lanny Hillyard and Jeff Heland.