Rettig appointed to Johnson County supervisor seat

Janelle Rettig of Iowa City was appointed this morning as the newest member of the Johnson County Board of Supervisors.

She is expected to be sworn in this afternoon.

A committee made up of county Auditor Tom Slockett, Recorder Kim Painter and Treasurer Tom Kriz were tasked by state law with making the decision.

The vote was 2-1 in support of Rettig, with Kriz casting the dissenting vote. He favored former Supervisor Mike Lehman.

Slockett said Rettig was as prepared to serve as anyone he had known in his 30 years as auditor.

A seat on the five-member Board of Supervisors became vacant last month when Larry Meyers died.

Some residents have started a petition to try to force a special election. They must collect at least 7,299 signatures by Nov. 13.

If the appointment holds, Rettig would fill the seat until the Nov. 2010 election. In June, Rettig announced her candidacy in the 2010 supervisors Democratic primary, and she intends to run for a full-time seat on the board.

Rettig is a self-employed consultant working as the development director for the Iowa Bicycle Coalition. She has worked for politicians and has served on local government boards.

Rettig was one of 16 to apply for the position, with eight being interviewed.

A Republican has not served as a Johnson County supervisor since 1962.