Field set, no primary needed in Iowa City election

IOWA CITY – The field is set in the Iowa City Council election, and for the first time since 1991, no primary is needed.

Six candidates filed nomination papers by Thursday's deadline – four seeking two open at-large seats and two running in District B.

A primary election is required if a certain number of candidates run for the same position, but this year's field did not hit that mark in either race. It's the first time in 22 years the city will not have a primary, according to the Johnson County Auditor's Office.

The candidates will go straight to the Nov. 5 election. All voters can cast ballots in the at-large and District B races.

Running in District B, which covers eastern Iowa City, are incumbent Terry Dickens and challenger Royceann Porter. Dickens is a first-term at-large council member, but he is shifting to District B with the current representative, Connie Champion, not seeking re-election.

The at-large candidates are incumbent Susan Mims and challengers Kingsley Botchway II, Catherine Champion (daughter of Connie Champion) and Rockne Cole.

Three people will be elected to the seven-member council. Council members serve four-year terms.