Voters head to polls tomorrow morning

(Editor's Note: The Keokuk mayor's race is not subject to a majority run off. Keokuk removed that run off requirement several years ago and the cities, not the county, implement those runoff requirements. We apologize for the error and regret any inconvenience it may have caused.)

LEE COUNTY – Voters go the polls tomorrow with two mayoral races in the county's biggest cities setting the stage for intrigue Tuesday night.
The spotlight is on the Fort Madison mayoral race, where five candidates are vying to succeed Matt Mohrfeld, who is concluding his final two-year term after three terms as mayor since 2019. The candidates include former Fort Madison City Clerk Melinda Blind; former city councilman and Lee County Supervisor Tom Schulz; perennial candidate Rodney Hoskins, Carl Rippenkroeger, and Fort Madison High School senior Roy Woodsmall. With such a crowded field, a run-off could be in the works, as Fort Madison requires a 50% +1 majority to win. If no candidate achieves that threshold, the top two will face off in a run-off four weeks after the regular election, per Iowa Code 376.9.
In Keokuk, three candidates—Corey Samuels, Danny Glasgow, and Mark Smidt—are competing for mayor and the same could happen there with the extended field. Smidt, a former publisher of the Keokuk Daily Gate City and executive director of the Hoerner Family YMCA, entered the race late but seems to have momentum heading to the polls.
Other city council races in Fort Madison feature several unopposed candidates: Angela Roller (2nd Ward), Nicole Merschman (4th Ward), Jerry Sparrow (3rd Ward), Matt Emmett (at-large), and Rusty Andrews (at-large). 
The Fort Madison School District has five candidates for three vacant board seats, plus a fourth seat temporarily filled by Heather Huebner after Amy Thacher resigned. Incumbents Paul Wilkerson and Brad Menke are not seeking re-election. Candidates include Mio Santiago, Heather Huebner, Rev. Chad Savage, former teacher Rachella Dravis, and Amos Wright. 
In the Central Lee School District, incumbents Brock Westfall (District IV) and Tony Sciumbato (District V) are running unopposed. Matt Mullins seeks another term as Montrose mayor, with Mark Holland, Tony Sciumbato, and Kent Rubey running for Montrose City Council. 
Other uncontested races include Gary Peitz for Mayor of West Point, and all five city council seats: Larry Buchholz, Wendy Vonderhaar, Brian Meierotto, Will Stuekerjuergen, and Bruce Wellman. In St. Paul, John Dingman is unopposed for mayor, with Brent Pieper, Ted Moeller, Marty Bentler, Paul Kenel, and Rod Cox on the council ballot. Houghton’s mayoral race features Gale Thompson unopposed, and five candidates for city council. No candidates filed for Franklin mayor or council. 
Keokuk’s Ward 1 and Ward 5 have contested races, while Doug Matlick (at-large) and Mike Greenwald (Ward 7) are unopposed. No candidates filed for Ward 3, which may be filled by write-ins or appointment. For the Keokuk School Board, incumbents Lacy Ames, LeAnn Clifford, Bonnie Peevler, and Clint Wray are joined by Michael Hamelton.