Iowa City sets city council special election for March

IOWA CITY — The Iowa City Council has set March 4 as the date for a special election that will fill a vacant city council seat — with three years left on the term — after council member Andrew Dunn announced his resignation effective Jan. 1, 2025.

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The District C seat, which includes downtown Iowa City and north-central Iowa City, is part of a seven-member council that includes four at-large members and three members who must live in specified districts but are chosen in the general election by voters citywide.

A primary election date, which would take place if three or more candidates filed for the seat, would take place Feb. 4.

Only District C voters would be able to vote in the primary, but all eligible Iowa City voters could cast ballots in the general election.

Anyone interested in running for the open seat must be a resident of District C and file a candidacy petition by Jan. 10, 2025. The petition must have 144 signatures from eligible voters in District C.

The Iowa City charter requires that petitions contain signatures from at least 2 percent of the number of voters who voted to the fill the same position in the last regular city election.

City Attorney Eric Goers said the special election will cost $75,000 for the general election and an additional $25,000 if a primary is needed.

“I would just urge people who are thinking about running to get on it, there’s 30 days to get 144 signatures required from District C, which probably requires going door to door … For those listening, note the timeline, it is very fast,” said council member Laura Bergus.

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