Ballot box has interesting county races

LEE COUNTY – Elections are just three weeks away and the ballot box is pretty full in Lee County. The majority of races up for election are uncontested, but there are several interesting contested races in the mix.
Fort Madison may have the most interesting races.
Two-term mayor Matt Mohrfeld is seeking a third term and is being challenged by Rodney Hoskins II and Fort Madison businessman Jerry Reuther. A candidate forum has been set for October 25 at 5:30 p.m. at Fort Madison City Council Chambers.
Hoskins has appeared on the mayoral ballot twice before and hasn’t really mounted a substantial challenge in either run. Reuther is coming out of nowhere as a first-time candidate seeking the mayor’s seat.
Fort Madison also has a race in one of the at-large council seats. Kevin Rink is seeking his third full term on the council after being first elected in 2015. He’s being challenged by Jerry Hamelton. Hamelton lost to Rink in 2019 790-646. Hamelton also applied to be appointed to the city council several times in the second ward, the most recent a year ago December. He lost out in that process to Tom Schulz and then Angela Roller. Schulz won a Lee County Supervisors' seat and vacated his council seat.
Also on the ballot unopposed in Fort Madison is Richard Thele -1st Ward and Angela Roller -2nd Ward. Roller is finishing her appointment to the council and now will appear on the ballot unopposed. Donna Amandus is running unopposed for 3rd Ward. Amandus had indicated she wouldn’t be running for another term when she was planning on moving out of the area, but has since reconsidered.
Dustin Yager is running unopposed in the 5th Ward after being appointed to finish out Chad Cangas’ vacated seat.
West Point has some energy in the ballot box this year, as well. With the appointment of Joe Loving as Mayor following the death of Paul Walker, the seat is now up for election. Loving didn’t file papers for the seat, but said he may reconsider in the future. However Gary Peitz and Philip Kruse have filed to serve as mayor for the next four years. There’s also a race for council with current councilmembers Bruce Wellman, Brian Meierotto, and Will Stuekerjuergen filing for re-election to the five-member council. Raymond Krogmeier, Wendy Vonderhaar, and Larry Bucholz are also on the ballot, leaving a six-person race for five seats.
Franklin is looking at no filed candidates for mayor or the five council member seats. Stan Thomas was elected mayor in 2021 along with councilmembers Jesse Day, Delbert Kramer, Melanie Kramer, Tom Moeller, and Jerry Sanders.
In Houghton, Gale Thompson is seeking another term as mayor and running unopposed. The town runs with five councilmembers that currently include Jay Henrich, Kurt Lowenburg, Marty Bentler, Cheryl Brock, and Russell Schwartz. Terrell and Andy Wilson are on the ballot for council this year. Schwartz did not file nomination papers this year.
In Donnellson, there are two at-large council spots and Jeremy Marshall is the only candidate on the ballot.
Matt Mullins is the lone candidate for mayor in Montrose. Jeff Junkins and Darcie Uhlmeyer are also on the ballot for the two council seats up for grabs. Mullins won his first election in Montrose in 2021 with 64 votes. Junkins and Uhlmeyer both won in 2019. Junkins was first elected in 2015.
St. Paul has no opposed races. John Dingman is on the ballot for Mayor, while Rod Cox, Marty Bentler, Ted Moeller, Paul Kenel, and Brent Pieper are on the ballot for City Council.
Keokuk has a contested race for mayor with incumbent Kathie Mahoney being challenged by Xai Coffman. Second Ward is unopposed with Tyler Walker the only candidate on the ballot. No candidate filed for 4th Ward, while 5th Ward’s Dan Tillman is unopposed, and Roger Bryant is unopposed for 6th Ward. Shelley Oltmans will seek one of two at-large seats. Devon Dade and Christopher S. Dailey are also on the ballot for an at-large seat.
In the school elections, Central Lee has three candidates for three seats. Matthew Doty, Bill Young, and Mark Hulsebus have all applied to sit on the board.
Fort Madison has four candidates for four seats including Amy Thacher, Keith Hehr, and Kelly Nelton, along with incumbent Josh Wykert, the current board president.
In Keokuk, there are three candidates for four at-large seats including Seth Anderson, Laurie Mendenhall, and Kim Wyatt.
Polls in Lee County are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on election day, Tuesday, Nov. 7.