Special election for vacant Johnson county supervisor seat

A special election to fill an open seat on the Johnson County Board of Supervisors would cost about $75,000.

One member of a committee charged with deciding the matter favors holding a special election over making an appointment within 40 days to fill the seat, vacated when Supervisor Larry Meyers died Tuesday.

“I think a lot of voters in the county would very much like the opportunity to vet those candidates,” county Recorder Kim Painter said.

The three-member committee - Painter, Auditor Tom Slockett and Treasurer Tom Kriz - met Friday but didn't vote on the issue. The group meets again at 2 p.m. Monday.

Members said they had hoped a special election could be coupled with the Nov. 3 general election, a move that would save the cost of a separate special election. But it appears that is prohibited by several provisions in the Iowa code, including one that says the filing deadlines for the two elections must coincide. The filing date for the Nov. 3 election has passed.

If the seat is filled by appointment, the person would serve until the November 2010 election. That's a lengthy period for someone not elected, Painter said.

Kriz and Slockett said they must weigh the cost versus the desire to put the issue before voters.

If the group chooses a special election, Slockett said Dec. 8 is the preferred date.