Local News
Three seek to replace Whitaker
OTTUMWA — The race for John Whitaker’s old seat in the Iowa House is a three-way contest and could attract even more candidates.
The Republican and Democratic candidates formalized their bids quickly. Curt Hanson and Stephen Burgmeier cinched their spots on the ballot after being nominated at party conventions. That is the only way candidates in this election could pick up a party endorsement.
Hanson, a Democrat from Fairfield, became the first official candidate when his paperwork reached the Iowa Secretary of State’s office on July 24. Burgmeier, a Republican from Lockridge, followed three days later.
That took care of the major party candidates, but Iowa law allows virtually anyone to run for the seat without seeking a party endorsement. That’s exactly what Douglas Phillips of Keosauqua is doing. The secretary of state’s office lists his petition as filed on Monday.
Petitions for the office require 50 signatures from eligible voters in the district. Eligible doesn’t always mean registered. So long as people legally can vote, regardless of whether they actually do, they can sign.
Petitions are due by 5 p.m. Friday. That’s when they must be in the secretary of state’s office in Des Moines. Documents postmarked prior to Friday that arrive later will not count.
Friday’s deadline will not officially set the list of candidates on the ballot for the Sept. 1 election. That happens at the end of business August 10, the last day for candidates to withdraw.
Voters have until Aug. 21 to pre-register for this election. County auditors’ offices must remain open until 5 p.m. that day for registration and will be open at least eight hours on Saturday, Aug. 29, for absentee voting.
The 90th District covers a large portion of southeast Iowa, including all of Van Buren County and parts of Jefferson and Wapello counties. Whitaker gave up his seat as representative for the district to take over as the head of Iowa’s Farm Service Agency. The winner of the special election will fill out the rest of his term.
Matt Milner can be reached at (641) 683-5359 or via e-mail at mwmilner@mchsi.com
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