Serving O'Brien & Clay Counties
Serving O'Brien & Clay Counties
Hartley lone city with contested ballot
The Nov. 2 election ballot will feature both city councils and school boards.
Residents in Hartley will actually have a choice to make when they hit the polls Nov. 2.
For the first time since 2017, voters in the City With a Heart will be handed a contested ballot. Incumbent city council members Ron Hengeveld, Brian Myers and Mary Westphalen are being challenged by Greg Cotter and Nick Galm for the three open seats. The last time Hartley voters had to pick between candidates was four years ago during a special election when current Mayor Rodney Ahrenstorff beat Clayton Pyle following the resignation of John Lyman. Ahrenstorff was the lone candidate to file for the mayor's chair this time around.
Other local ballots aren't as interesting.
No candidates are running for mayor in Everly, as current Mayor Brad Behrens did not file for re-election. Incumbent Council Member Tracey Grigg-Schuver is running again, while Jeff Wiemann filed to replace Cheri Hoye, who did not file for re-election.
Elsewhere on Everly's ballot, Denise Cook is running for the vacant council seat left by former member Josh Muckey, who moved away this summer. Travis Tesch was appointed in July to fill the spot, but he is not running in November.
Royal's ballot is straightforward. Incumbent Mayor Josh Toft is running for re-election unopposed, while newcomers Mitch Fahnlander and Sara Ricke are planning to fill the shoes of current council members Arlene Wimmer and Laef Lundbeck, who aren't running.
City councils and mayors' chairs aren't the only things being decided Nov. 2 – local school board members will also be on the ballot.
At Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn, incumbents Chad Lyman (District 3) and Scott Vollink (District 5) are running unopposed. District 2 Board Member Dave Vander Broek is not running for re-election, and nobody filed to run for the seat.
Clay Central/Everly voters will decide a similar ballot. Incumbent board members Denny Dalen (District 2) and Allison Goyette (District 4) are running for re-election, but District 5 is open. Incumbent Board Member Steve Kracht is not seeking another term.
