By Mari Radtke
The O’Brien County Commissioner of Elections, Barb Rohwer, released the candidate names to be placed on ballots for local elections to be held November 2. Elections this year are held for cities and school districts. The candidates are a mix of newcomers, incumbents and seats without candidates. A few of this year’s contests offer a selection of candidates for available seats, making election to leadership offices competitive. VOTE!
The City of Sanborn residents have a mayor seat and 2 council seats at the end of a term this year. Each seat is unopposed. Randy Lyman is looking to serve his second elected two year term.
Jerry Back and Larry Reitsma are the 2 council candidates. Council terms are four years each. Jerry Back is an experienced councilman having served in that position for more than a decade. Larry Reitsma is seeking his second elected term.
District 2 of Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn has no candidate on the ballot. District 2 is primarily the western half of the City of Hartley. If no write-in candidate becomes a clear winner the school board may appoint or hold a special election.
Chad Lyman of Sanborn is the only District 3 candidate for HMS School District. District 3 is the city of Melvin, and the rural areas north and west. District 3 also includes rural areas surrounding Sanborn in all directions. District 3 is a large western geographical area of the school district.
District 5 of HMS is the last school board candidate open this year. Scott Vollink is the only ballot candidate for that area. District 5 is primarily rural southeastern HMS and the eastern portion of the city of Hartley.
Iowa Lakes Community College and Northwest Iowa Community College also have directors on the ballot.