Jon Wells, who has served on the Iola City Council since 2013, has thrown his hat into the ring to be the city’s next mayor.
Wells filed Wednesday, County Clerk Sherrie Riebel said.
Wells was appointed to the Council in June 2013 to represent Iola’s Ward 1, then ran unopposed for re-election in 2015.
Wells saw the opportunity to serve in a leadership role for the city.
“While the mayor doesn’t have a vote, it’s still an important position,” Wells told the Register. “There was a vacancy, and I figured it’s a councilman’s duty to step up.”
The campaign would be considered a “safe” election for Wells, who would retain his council seat if his mayoral bid is unsuccessful.
Mayor Joel Wicoff said previously he had not decided on whether he will run for re-election.
Wells is a history and political science instructor at Allen Community College.
CANDIDATES for Iola’s other Council positions have until noon June 1 to file.
Up for re-election are Nancy Ford, Ward 1; Beverly Franklin, Ward 2; Donald Becker, Ward 3; and Sandy Zornes, Ward 4. Ford said he is leaning toward running again, while Zornes said she was undecided. Becker and Franklin both said they are not running for re-election.
Other city and school board elections also will be decided this fall.
