IOWA CITY– Voters in Johnson County will select a new county supervisor on Tuesday, June 8, in a special election to fill the seat vacated by Janelle Rettig.
A Statutory Committee of County Officers, consisting of County Auditor Travis Weipert, Recorder Kim Painter and Treasurer Tom Kriz voted 2-1 (Weipert and Painter for, Kriz against) the election during a Friday, April 23, meeting to discuss options for filling the vacancy.
One option would have been to appoint a person, selected from a field of applicants, to fill the term, which expires on Dec. 31, 2022. However, the public has the right, County Attorney Janet Lyness noted, to petition for a special election in the event of an appointment. Lyness told the committee members such a petition would need at least 8,385 signatures, which equals 10 percent of the voters in the last presidential election. The second option, calling for a special election without appointment, needs to be held as soon as practical with 32 days notice to the county auditor’s office. Lyness said June 8 would be the soonest providing for the 32-day notice, and avoiding the Memorial Day weekend.
As supervisor is a partisan position, Lyness also noted, the Democrat and Republican parties of Johnson County would need to hold nominating conventions to pick their candidates with at least seven days notice needed for the Democrats, and 10 days for the Republicans in order to convene their conventions. Candidates of other parties are also able to appear on the ballot, and individuals not affiliated with a party are able to circulate a petition for inclusion as well. Filing deadline for all candidates is 5 p.m. on Friday, May 14.
Weipert, chair of the committee, opened up a public hearing for the meeting, which was held via telephone and online. With no comments offered, the public hearing was closed, leading to Weipert, Painter and Kriz expressing their thoughts ahead of voting.
Painter said Johnson County prides itself on a tremendous public interview when appointing candidates to vacancies on the board, and called it a “very rigorous, professional process.” She pointed out appointing was less expensive than a special election, estimated at between $60 and $80,000. “We might be able to locate a seasoned, veteran leader willing to step in and provide great service, and promise not to run in the next election,” she said. However, she added in her personal view it is not fair to put a great leader into office, and then deny them the opportunity to run for election to the position at the first opportunity. “We give the appearance of ‘crowning’ someone, which gives them a tremendous (electoral) advantage if they do run,” she added.
Painter also was uncomfortable, with the pandemic improving, but still continuing, to put people into a position to “scurry around to get 8,385 signatures (for the petition calling for an election). Just one serious case of COVID-19 resulting from the effort would “quickly dwarf the dollar amount of the election,” Painter said. “It just highlights the difficulties of the situation we’re in,” she added.
Painter stated she would be voting for the special election, citing more than 12 months left in the term, and a desire not to give any one person a “substantial advantage” in the next election.
Kriz agreed with Painter that 8,385 is “a huge number for people to look at to try to petition,” and noted it was his and Painter’s sixth time going through this appointment and/or election process. “I understand your feelings with COVID,” he told Painter. “There isn’t a ‘norm’ anymore. We’d have to look at (the petition process) differently,” and added for him, the cost is a concern. However, Kriz said it is always concerning when a vacancy such as this does go to an election. “We possibly weed out some really good candidates who may not have strong ties to either party. There are courses for them to achieve this, but the tasks get to be monumental, so I think sometimes we miss some.”
Kriz explained once it goes to the parties’ conventions, “It comes down to people to pick the best candidate they want to advance, but it’s always the candidate the populous is looking for… a very narrow group of people make the decision.” Kriz also suggested after the contentious presidential election, “election fatigue” manifested in voter apathy could be a factor. Special elections historically, he pointed out, have a very low voter turnout.
“I would lean towards appointment,” he said. “We get a different crop (of candidates) looking at it, a bigger cross-section of the county. It opens some territory for some people who may not be extremely politically active, but are wanting to make a difference in the community. I think we can do this properly, and we can appoint somebody.”
Weipert favored a special election, noting the one-and-a-half years remaining on Rettig’s term.
“I know we can select by appointment, but with election, parties can weed out their candidates. It’s not on us to do so,” he said.
He agreed with Painter’s concerns of giving incumbent status, to whoever would be appointed, a likely advantage in the next election. “My phone has been ringing off the hook,” Weipert said, with people interested in the spot. “I know this is going to cost us upwards of $70,000-$80,000, but my staff can handle it. We do a great job, and we can figure it out.”
Weipert concluded his comments by stating, “I’m not comfortable appointing somebody.”
Rettig joined the supervisors via appointment in 2009, and won in a special election in 2020 before being reelected in 2014 and 2018. She resigned April 18 and said in her announcement on social media being a supervisor would not be a life-long role for her. “I believe people serving in policy-making positions should come in to make a difference, work hard and then move on,” Rettig stated. “Policy makers have a tendency to stay in the same position too long.”
Important Dates
Friday, May 14 — Filing deadline for candidates at 5 p.m.
Democratic and Republican candidates need to file certificate of nomination by convention and affidavit of candidacy. Persons interested in running as Democrats or Republicans should contact the parties. Other candidates may file with 250 signatures and affidavit of candidacy.
Monday, May 24 — Voter pre-registration deadline and deadline to request a mailed absentee ballot, both 5 p.m. reflecting recent changes in Iowa election law. However, Election Day registration and in-person early voting will still be available after this date.
Monday, May 31— Memorial Day, Auditor’s Office closed.
Monday, June 7 — Last day for in person early voting at the Auditor’s Office.
Tuesday, June 8 — Election Day. Polls open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Vote at your regular polling place.
Also — Mailed ballots must be returned to the Auditor’s Office before the polls close at 8 p.m.
The poll closing time of 8 p.m. also reflects recent changes to Iowa law.