Capitol Notebook: 3 recounts for Iowa legislative seats settled

Three recounts from the November election for seats in the Iowa Legislature have been completed, and the election night results have been confirmed in all three.

Two incumbents held onto their seats by narrow margins while a third was unseated, according to the results confirmed by the recounts.

In Dallas County, Iowa Sen. Sarah Trone Garriott, a Democrat from Waukee, won re-election against Republican challenger Mark Hanson, of Waukee.

The unofficial results reported on election night showed Trone Garriott with a narrow victory by 24 votes; after a recount in the Dallas County district, Trone Garriott appears to have won by 29 votes out of roughly 40,000 cast.

In Polk County, Iowa Sen. Nate Boulton, a Democrat from Des Moines, lost his re-election bid to Republican challenger Mike Pike, of Des Moines.

The unofficial results reported on election night showed Pike with a narrow victory by 44 votes out of more than 31,000 cast. A recount in the Polk County district revealed the exact same vote totals as the unofficial results.

In Scott County, Iowa Rep. Monica Kurth, a Democrat from Davenport, won re-election against Republican challenger Nathan Ramker, of Blue Grass.

The unofficial results reported on election night showed Kurth with a narrow victory by 45 votes out of nearly 14,000 cast; after a recount in the Scott County district, Kurth appears to have won by 47 votes.

All Iowa election results will be certified during a meeting of the state Canvass Board during its meeting Monday.

Reynolds appoints multiple associate judges

Kristi Busse and Andrew Zimmerman have been appointed district judges by Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, the governor’s office announced.

Busse was appointed as a district associate judge in Northwest Iowa. Busse is an assistant county attorney for Clay County and received her undergraduate degree from Buena Vista University and her law degree from the University of Nebraska, according to the governor’s office.

Busse fills a vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Andrew J. Smith in Iowa Judicial District 3A, which covers Buena Vista, Cherokee, Clay, Dickinson, Emmet, Kossuth, Lyon, O’Brien, Osceola, and Palo Alto counties.

Zimmerman was appointed as a district associate judge in Southwest Iowa. Zimmerman is a magistrate and legal counsel and trust officer at Iowa State Savings bank who received his undergraduate degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and his law degree from Creighton University, according to the governor’s office.

Zimmerman fills a vacancy created by the passing of Judge Monty Franklin in Iowa Judicial District 5B, which covers Adair, Adams, Clarke, Decatur, Lucas, Ringgold, Taylor, Union, and Wayne Counties.

Gazette-Lee Des Moines Bureau

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