Lee County, IA – The deadline has passed for candidates to get on the ballot for the November municipal elections in Southeast Iowa.
There is a crowded field in the race to be Keokuk's next mayor.
Five candidates are looking to replace Keokuk Mayor Dave Gudgel. Gudgel is stepping down after eight years in office.
Twelve residents filed to serve on the Keokuk City Council. Seven of the nine seats on the panel are up for grabs.
The filing deadline was Thursday, September 17.
Mayor
Chuck Betts
Gordon Blankenship
Per Malm
Carol Mardis
Tom Marion
*Incumbent Dave Gudgel chose not to seek re-election
City Council - At-Large (4 year)
Zane Zirkel
* Incumbent Doug Matlick chose not to seek re-election
City Council - At-Large (2 year)
Brian Barnes
Lonnie McCarty
Brandon Parsons
Daniel Winn
* Incumbent Mark Hoyt chose not to seek re-election
City Council - 1st Ward (4 year)
John Helenthal
* Mike O'Connor - Incumbent
City Council - 3rd Ward (4 year)
* Ron Payne - Incumbent
City Council - 5th Ward (4 year)
Michael Girard
* Incumbent Justin Tuck chose not to seek re-election
City Council - 6th Ward (2 year)
* Karole Smith - Incumbent
Melvin Smith
City Council - 7th Ward (4 year)
* Susan Dunek - Incumbent
If no one in the race for Keokuk Mayor receives more than 50% of the votes cast on November 3, a run-off election would be needed. Lee County Elections Coordinator Denise Fraise says that would take place, between the top two vote-getters, on December 1.
Mayor (2 year)
* Bill Young - Incumbent
City Council - At-Large (4 year)
* Matt Morrison - Incumbent
Deb Nagel
* Kevin Schneider - Incumbent
* Incumbent Gary Lightfoot chose not to seek re-election.
Keokuk is not the only city in Lee County to have a contested mayoral race on the ballot during the November 3 city election.
Mayor (2 year)
* Steve Ireland - Incumbent
Spencer Fraise
City Council - 2nd Ward (4 year)
* Chris Greenwald - Incumbent
City Council - 4th Ward (4 year)
Jason Huppert
Preston Hampton
* Incumbent Neil Boeding chose not to seek re-election.
City Council - At Large (4 year)
* Brad Randolph - Incumbent
Mayor (2 year)
* Tamara Nichols - Incumbent
City Council - At-Large (Vote for 5)
Corey Gerdes
Mayor (2 year)
* Paul Walker - Incumbent
City Council - At Large (Choose 5)
John Brinck
Larry Buchholz
Melanie Scheirbrock
Bruce Wellman
Mary Kathryn Winnike
Mayor
* Greg Ruth - Incumbent
City Council - At-Large (Choose 3)
Mark Conlee
John Geyer
Mark Holland
Mary Van Pelt