Four Washingtonians apply for open council seat

WASHINGTON — As the Washington City Council prepares to pick a new at-large member, four residents have put their names in the hat.

The council expects to appoint someone to the typically elected position on May 21, now that former officeholder Millie Youngquist has taken on the role of mayor, having won a special election last month to replace resigned mayor Jaron Rosien.

The now vacant at-large council term lasts through 2027, after Youngquist won an uncontested reelction bid for it just last year. The applicants for the expected appointment come from a variety of backgrounds.

Four contenders vying for position

Jennine Wolf is the first name listed among application materials that will be presented to current city council members Tuesday night. It might ring a bell for some residents: Wolf is a former Washington County Environmental Health Director, now retired. She was also one of three candidates in a race for Ward 2’s council seat in February of 2023, but lost that low-turnout race by eight ballots.

In a statement on her application materials, Wolf said she brought considerable experience to the table.

“I understand Roberts Rules of Order for meetings,” she wrote. “I understand codes, I have worked with the public, and I feel I can bring a different perspective to the council.”

Kenneth Schroeder is next on the applicant list. The retired Washington resident of six years has previously managed a commercial printer, and has been involved in “large purchase investigation” according to his application materials.

Schroeder said he had plenty of other experience on decision-making boards, specifically the Graphic Arts Technology Center of Iowa Advisory Board, New Horizons United Methodist Church Trustee Board, and Grandview Condo Association in Coralville.

The applicant said his relatively short time living in the city assured he’d remain impartial on the municipal governing body.

“Being fairly new to Washington, I do not have long-term allies or enemies,” he wrote. “This would allow all decisions to be based on merit.”

Jennifer Durst is also in the mix, a frequent audience member at Washington City Council meetings since summer of 2022, when the city held contentious discussions about major parking ordinance changes.

Durst is also senior application developer for University of Iowa Health Care. In her application materials, she pitched herself as an “analytical thinker” who made strong, data-based decisions and excelled at long-term planning.

The experience has also made her a strong team player, Durst said.

“I have had the opportunity to work with many diverse individuals with varying backgrounds and ethnicities,” she wrote in her application. “Collaborating with people from various backgrounds ensures that different perspectives are considered, leading to more comprehensive and inclusive decision-making that benefits the entire community.”

Rob Meyer is last but not least among the contenders listed in the council’s meeting packet for May 21. He made waves running for mayor last month, but fell far short with only 13.29% of the vote, a total of 130 ballots in that four-way race.

In his application materials, Meyer wrote that his managerial experience and team-building skills would be a boon for the city. As he did on the mayoral campaign trail, the property manager and frequent church volunteer said his vision for Washington was an ambitious one.

“My positive influence and … want to help see positive growth and results within our community qualify me for this position,” Meyer wrote. “I feel that when it comes to policies, community development, budgeting, decision-making and collaboration that I can represent our community and make an impact.”

Appointment is not assured

Council members could, in theory, choose not to appoint a successor at their regular meeting Tuesday night, and arrange to hold an election instead. So far, however, they’ve signaled no interest in that option, which faces more delays and higher costs than an appointment would.

“We’re getting pretty close to the summer, and we’re going to do a lot of things this summer,” Council Member Fran Stigers said at a meeting earlier this month. “I think we need a full council.”

Even if the council moves to appoint a new member Tuesday night, residents of the city could force it to hold an election instead. Doing so would require a petition, filed within 14 days of the appointment’s announcement.

Based on turnout for the last regular election, said petition would need at least 45 signatures to override an appointment.

City officials previously said a special election — if it comes to that — would happen July 2 or Aug. 2, citing input from county officials. The awkward timeline was attributed to tight schedules at the newly established Washington County Fairgrounds polling place, which will be busy preparing for, hosting, and cleaning up from its titular event in the intervening weeks.

Comments: Kalen.McCain@southeastiowaunion.com