Mayor, three council members seek reelection in Mt. Pleasant

Three Mt. Pleasant City Council seats, as well as the mayor’s seat, will all be on the ballot for the Nov. 2 municipal election.

All four incumbents plan to seek reelection to their posts.

Mayor Steve Brimhall is closing out his 12th year in office.

“We have a great group of staff and a great council,” Brimhall said. “We all work well together.”

He pointed to census figures that show that Mt. Pleasant’s population has grown by nearly 7 percent over the past decade as an indicator that things are going well in the city.

“I think we’re progressive, and it shows in our population increase,” Brimhall said. “All of the things that we’ve incentivized over the years have helped increase our population.”

At-large City Council member Terry McWilliams is completing his third four-year term.

“I will be running,” McWilliams said. “There are still things in the city that we’re working on that I would like to see accomplished.

“I enjoy serving and giving back to the people of this city.”

Ward 2 City Council member Bob Griffith is seeking his fourth four-year term on the council.

Griffith previously served from 2002-10 before rejoining the council in 2018.

“I took eight years off, then decided to run again,” he said.

Griffith said he submitted his nomination papers on Monday morning, the first day he was eligible to submit them.

“I like to give back to the community,” he said. “This is a great community, and it is my home.”

Ward 4 City Council member Jeff Batty is completing his first four-year term on the council.

“I have enjoyed my time on the City Council and want to continue working to improve the city of Mt. Pleasant,” Batty said. “In my time on the council, we have been able to pass several measures to improve roads and build trails. We have also lowered the city tax rate the last two years.

“I think that Mt. Pleasant is a well-run city, and I hope the voters of Ward 4 re-elect me so I can continue to be part of the City Council.”

The filing period for candidates seeking municipal offices began Monday and runs through Sept. 16.

Those interested in running for city offices can acquire the necessary materials from City Hall or from the Iowa secretary of state’s website.

To run, hopefuls will have to submit an affidavit of candidacy and a nomination petition with at least 25 signatures from the ward they plan to represent.

These files must be submitted to City Hall or the County Auditor’s office by 5 p.m. on Sept. 16.