Blind to be FM's next Mayor

FORT MADISON – Veteran Fort Madison city employee Melinda Blind has turned her three decades of service to residents into a two-year term as Mayor with an option for more.
Blind rolled to a convincing win in Tuesday’s city/school election with 873 votes of 1,531 cast for 57% of the vote.
That percentage is enough to fend off a runoff that would have occurred had a candidate not garnered 50% plus a vote.
Blind said she was fully expecting a run-off because of the five candidates in the race.
“I honestly couldn't believe that we were not going to have a runoff,” Blind said after all precincts came in.
Newcomer Carl Rippenkroeger may have received a message from voters that he has a place getting the second most votes at 357. Former councilman and supervisor Tom Schulz collected 233 votes. Rodney Hoskins and FMHS senior Roy Woodsmall had a scattering, with three voters issuing write-ins.
Blind said she was very happy with voter turnout and said that might be a record for a city election.
“Oh my goodness. I think that could be a record which I'm really, really thrilled about. The citizens of Fort Madison came out and voted and it’s everyone’s right to vote. It's very important and we all need to exercise it.”
In absentee voting, Blind jumped out to a heavy early lead with 220 votes cast compared to 65 for Carl Rippenkroeger and 37 for Tom Schulz. Rodney Hoskins and FMHS senior Roy Woodsmall combined for five.
Incumbent Mio Santiago was the top vote-getter in the Fort Madison Community School District Board of Directors ballot. Santiago pulled in 1,229 votes followed by retired school teacher Rachelle Dravis with 1,144 with three precincts still to come in at 9:40 p.m. The third and final seat was a tighter race with Denmark’s Chad Savage and Fort Madison’s Amos Wright separated by 47 votes.
Santiago said he was honored for the continued trust from the voters.
“I am deeply honored and humbled by the trust our community has placed in me through this election. Thank you to everyone who took the time to vote and to all who continue to support our schools in so many ways,” he said.

“The Fort Madison Community School District has made great progress, and I look forward to building on that momentum. Challenging times are ahead, with shrinking budgets and increasing attacks on public education, but my focus will remain — doing what is best for our students.”
He said he was excited to continue the important work of strengthening the district and celebrating the things happening throughout Fort Madison’s schools.
Dravis said she was energized to bring her experience to the board, but said she will not be just a yes person, placing value in a dissenting opinion.
“It just really makes me proud as an educator. 1,144 people said they want an educator’s voice,” Dravis said.
“I've said my same three things - I am brain-aligned, I am student-centered, and I am educator-empowered, and I'm going to stick to those three things and I cannot wait to be a great listener.
“You know, I’m not a yes person. There's a reason to have a dissenting opinion, and there's nothing wrong with that dissenting opinion.”
Current board member Heather Huebner was also on the ballot but in an uncontested race to fill a vacancy on the board, a position she had been appointed to earlier this year.
For the Fort Madison City Council, At-large candidates Rusty Andrews and Matt Emmett both won uncontested races, Angela Roller and Jerry Sparrow ran uncontested in Wards 2 and 3 and newcomer Nicole Merschman, also running uncontested, garnered 231 votes in her first ever public run in Ward 4.
Mark Smidt, a late candidate for the Keokuk mayor’s seat won handily with 1,186 votes. Danny Glasgow was second with 480 votes. The former Daily Gate City publisher and Hoerner YMCA CEO will take over for Kathy Mahoney who did not run for another term. Todd Marshall won the 1st Ward seat over Ethan Glasgow and Matt VanBerkum will take the 5th Ward seat knocking off Dan Tillman and Jigar Patel. Michael Greenwald ran unopposed for the 7th Ward.
In Montrose Matt Mullins ran uncontested and was re-elected to the mayor’s chair. Mark Holland, Tony Sciumbato, and Kent Rubey were all re-elected. Josh Dingman will serve as St. Paul’s mayor with 17 votes uncontested. Ted Moeller, Marty Bentler, Paul Kenel, Rod Cox, and Brent Pieper were all re-elected there, as well – with 17 votes.
Gary Peitz will stay on as mayor in West Point running unopposed, and all five councilpersons, Wendy Vonderhaar, Brian Meierotto, Will Stuekerjuergen, Larry Buchholz, and Bruce Wellman will keep that council intact for two more years.
Central Lee school board’s Brock Westfall and Tony Sciumbato both retained seats uncontested.
Keokuk voters elected Bonnie Peevler, Clint Wray, and Lacy Ames to three open spots.