JOHNSON COUNTY– The Johnson County Republicans have nominated Phil Hemingway as their candidate for the open seat on the Johnson County Board of Supervisors for the Tuesday, June 8, special election.
Hemingway was selected during a county convention on Saturday, May 8.
The vacancy was created by the sudden resignation of Janelle Rettig on April 18. Rettig was appointed to the board in 2009, won a special election in 2010, and was reelected in 2014 and 2018. Her term expires on Dec. 31, 2022, and the winner of the June 8 election will serve until then.
A Statutory Committee of County Officers, consisting of Auditor Travis Weipert, Recorder Kim Painter and Treasurer Tom Kriz voted 2-1 (Kriz against) in favor of the election during a Friday, April 23, meeting, as opposed to filling the vacancy by appointment.
Hemingway, from Iowa City, has been the owner and operator of an auto and truck repair business since 1997 and is a Johnson County native, having been born and raised on his family’s Century Farm between Morse and Oasis. He is a fourth-generation farmer, has worked in Africa, the former Soviet Union, and managed Roy Carver’s cattle ranch in Belize for five years. He was elected to the Iowa City Community School District’s Board of Education in 2015 where he served one term.
This will not be Hemingway’s first attempt at a supervisor seat. He ran in 2018 against Rettig and current Supervisor Pat Heiden, and again in 2020 in a four-way race for three seats against Supervisors Rod Sullivan, Lisa Green-Douglass and Royceann Porter.
If successful, he would be the first Republican elected to the Board since John Etheredge was elected to one term in 2013.
The Johnson County Democrats’ nominating convention was scheduled for Tuesday, May 11, after this edition’s deadline. 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.
Important Dates
Friday, May 14: Filing deadline for candidates at 5 p.m.
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.