JOHNSON COUNTY– The ballot for the Tuesday, June 8, special election to fill the Johnson County Board of Supervisors seat vacated by Janelle Rettig has been set.
The Democratic Party of Johnson County selected Jon Green of Lone Tree in a Tuesday, May 11, nominating convention to run against Republican Phil Hemingway and Brian Campbell (no party) of Iowa City.
Four candidates were nominated during the Democratic convention: Green, Scott Finlayson of Iowa City, Meghann Foster of Coralville and Susan Vileta of Swisher. According to convention rules, a candidate needed to receive a 50 percent-plus one majority vote of the delegates present to win the nomination. As no candidate received the required majority on the first ballot, voting extended to three rounds, when Green won the nomination.
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 County Auditor Travis Weipert, Recorder Kim Painter, and Treasurer Tom Kriz voted 2-1 (Weipert and Painter for, Kriz against) in favor of the election, instead of filling the vacancy by appointment, during a Friday, April 23, meeting.
Hemingway won the Republican nomination during a County Convention on May 8. If elected, he would be the first Republican on the board of supervisors since John Etheridge was elected to one term in 2013. Green previously served as the mayor of West Branch and has received the endorsement of Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders.

Important dates

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.