Petition calls for special election in Johnson County

A grass-roots effort has begun to try to force a special election to fill a vacant seat on the Johnson County Board of Supervisors.

Lori Cardella of Solon said Thursday she and a group of residents have started collecting signatures for a petition calling for an election to replace Larry Meyers, who died of cancer last week with a little more than a year left in his term.

“I think we're really more than ever today seeing the power political office can hold,” she said.

State law gives a county's treasurer, recorder and auditor the power to appoint someone to fill a vacant seat or let voters decide, but the public can petition to require an election. The holders of those offices in Johnson County decided this week to appoint someone, citing the estimated $75,000 cost of a special election and the petition option for the public.

The petition would need at least 7,299 signatures, which is 10 percent of the number of Johnson County voters in last year's presidential race.

Cardella admitted that's a significant number but said she thought they had time to meet the requirement.

The petition must be submitted within 14 days of the appointment. The three county officials have set an Oct. 28 goal for selecting someone for the seat.

There are five seats on the Johnson County Board of Supervisors. A Republican has not served on the board since 1962.