Special election to be held for Board of Supervisors vacancy in Johnson County

Apr. 23, 2021 3:19 pm, Updated: Apr. 23, 2021 5:36 pm

Johnson County Supervisor candidate Janelle Rettig chats with Royceann Porter during an election watch party at Big Grove Brewery on Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2018. (David Scrivner/Freelance)

IOWA CITY — The vacancy on the Johnson County Board of Supervisors will be filled by special election.

Johnson County voters will go to the polls June 8 to fill the seat of former Supervisor Janelle Rettig, who resigned last weekend.

The decision to hold a special election was made Friday by a committee consisting of County Auditor Travis Weipert, County Recorder Kim Painter and County Treasurer Tom Kriz.

“I like letting the parties and letting the people pick,” Weipert said.

Had the committee appointed someone, a petition of 8,350 signatures would have been needed to challenge that selection and force a special election. Given ongoing concerns associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, Painter said she was not comfortable forcing people to go out into the public to collect signatures.

“Even one serious case of COVID … would dwarf the dollar amount of holding a special election,” Painter said.

Weipert said the special election likely will cost about $70,000 to $80,000.

Kriz voted against the special election in favor of appointment.

By having the local Democratic and Republican parties select their nominees, other candidates might not get a fair shot at running for the board, though people can petition to be placed on the ballot, she said.

“I think it opens up some territory for people that may not be what I would call ’extremely politically active,’ but maybe extremely pro-our community, wanting to make a difference,” Kriz said, speaking in favor of a special election.

The local parties will now hold conventions to select their candidates for supervisor. The county’s five supervisors are paid $84,836 a year.