Special election likely Jan. 19 in Johnson County

A petition drive appears to have succeeded in forcing a special election for a seat on the Johnson County Board of Supervisors.

Organizers turned in more than 8,100 signatures Friday, and the Auditor's Office last night validated 7,810 of them.

That's enough to satisfy the 7,299 signatures needed to force an election, which is 10 percent of the number of Johnson County voters in last year's presidential race.

The petition can be challenged through Nov. 20. But officials said it's unlikely that more than 500 additional names will be invalidated, and the county is moving ahead on planning for an election.

The county auditor, recorder and treasurer set a Jan. 19 election date.

A supervisor's seat was made vacant when Larry Meyers died of cancer in September. Democrat Janelle Rettig of Iowa City was appointed to the position two weeks ago by the same three-member committee that set the election date.

The committee had considered calling an election but chose an appointment, citing the estimated $75,000 cost of a special election and the petition option for the public.

Rettig's selection raised some eyebrows because Recorder Kim Painter and Auditor Tom Slockett had previously expressed support for Rettig when she declared herself a candidate for next year's supervisors' election.

A small group of residents began collecting signatures in early October. The group's core was made up of Republicans, but they said their support crossed party lines. That showed in the number of signatures collected.

“I think there's a lot of people in Johnson County who believe maintaining your right to vote is worth fighting for,” said Lori Cardella of Solon, one of the petition drive leaders.

Cardella said she plans to seek the Republican nomination for the election.

Party conventions must be convened to nominate candidates, and anyone else interested in running must collect at least 250 signatures.

Rettig said the cost of the election would be hard on the county, but said she was looking forward to seeking the Democratic nomination.

A petition drive appears to have succeeded in forcing a special election for a seat on the Johnson County Board of Supervisors.

Organizers turned in more than 8,100 signatures Friday, and the Auditor's Office last night validated 7,810 of them.

That's enough to satisfy the 7,299 signatures needed to force an election, which is 10 percent of the number of Johnson County voters in last year's presidential race.

The petition can be challenged through Nov. 20. But officials said it's unlikely that more than 500 additional names will be invalidated, and the county is moving ahead on planning for an election.

The county auditor, recorder and treasurer set a Jan. 19 election date.

A supervisor's seat was made vacant when Larry Meyers died of cancer in September. Democrat Janelle Rettig of Iowa City was appointed to the position two weeks ago by the same three-member committee that set the election date.

The committee had considered calling an election but chose an appointment, citing the estimated $75,000 cost of a special election and the petition option for the public.

Rettig's selection raised some eyebrows because Recorder Kim Painter and Auditor Tom Slockett had previously expressed support for Rettig when she declared herself a candidate for next year's supervisors' election.

A small group of residents began collecting signatures in early October. The group's core was made up of Republicans, but they said their support crossed party lines. That showed in the number of signatures collected.

“I think there's a lot of people in Johnson County who believe maintaining your right to vote is worth fighting for,” said Lori Cardella of Solon, one of the petition drive leaders.

Cardella said she plans to seek the Republican nomination for the election.

Party conventions must be convened to nominate candidates, and anyone else interested in running must collect at least 250 signatures.

Rettig said the cost of the election would be hard on the county, but said she was looking forward to seeking the Democratic nomination.