Packwood City Council tasked with filling open seat

PACKWOOD – A city council seat in Packwood is still unfilled more than a month after the Nov. 7 elections.

The unusual circumstance is the result of having fewer candidates on the ballot than open positions. Packwood voters were asked to fill three open positions on the council, but only two people had put their names on the ballot, Larry E. Johnson and Rita J. Eastman. Both of them won election. But what about the third seat? There was a five-way tie.

There were five write-in votes for five different people, which meant the Jefferson County Board of Supervisors would have to draw names from a hat. The supervisors did that and drew the name Kortney Heald, but she declined the seat. The supervisors then drew names a second time, and this time drew the name Matt Guise, but he also declined.

Jefferson County Elections Clerk Abbie DeKleine said the next step is for the Packwood City Council to appoint a council member to fill the third seat at its next meeting.

DeKleine said this sort of thing doesn’t happen often, and recalled one instance about 10 years ago where a write-in candidate won an election but declined, requiring that town to fill the seat by appointment.

DeKleine added that this provision of having two rounds, where the next highest vote-getter is awarded the seat if the winner declines, is specific to city councils and does not apply to school boards.

Call Andy Hallman at 641-575-0135 or email him at andy.hallman@southeastiowaunion.com