Spring election filing deadline approaching

Noon Jan. 22 is the deadline to file for election to city and school positions that will be filled in the April 2 general election.
Iolans will have much to decide.
All members of the city’s new eight-person council will be up for election, as will the position of mayor. Iolans also will help fill three seats on the Allen Community College Board of Trustees and three positions on the USD 257 Board of Education.
Service on Iola’s council will change with the election.
Two members will be elected from each ward, with the candidate drawing the most votes getting a four-year term, the second place candidate a two-year term. In subsequent elections, four council positions will be filled each two years for four years, setting in motion a two-year rotation.
A mayor will serve two years.
ACC trustees Neal Barclay and Harvey Rogers, Iola, and Jenny Spillman, Moran, are at their terms’ end.
The positions of Tony Leavitt and Buck Quincy, Iola, and Darrel Catron, Gas, on the USD 257 Board of Education are also up for election. The positions are for four years.
Catron’s four-year term as Gas mayor also expires this year.
City and school elections are non-partisan, meaning candidates do not have to declare party affiliation when filing.

THE INCUMBENTS whose seats will be filled in this spring’s election:
Iola mayor: Bill Shirley.
Iola Council: Ward 1, Nancy Ford and Scott Stewart; Ward 2, Beverly Franklin and Joel Wicoff; Ward 3, Don Becker ad Jim Kilby; Ward 4, Steve French and David Toland.
LaHarpe mayor: Cynthia Carr.
LaHarpe Council: Harry Lee Jr., Gerald Clay and Ronald Knavel Sr.
Moran mayor: Phillip Merkel.
Moran Council: James A. Mueller and Warren L. Johnson.
Mildred mayor: Dennis Gardner.
Mildred Council: Candice Gardner, Mike Becker, Henry McFadden, Ginger McFadden and Charles Helser.
Gas mayor: Darrel Catron.
Gas Council: Vacancy from Iris Neuenswander’s resignation and Mark Henry.
Humboldt mayor: Nobby Davis.
Humboldt Council: Ward 1, position 3, Mark Slater; Ward 1, position 4, Don Walburn; Ward 2, position 3, Dan Julich; Ward 2, position 4, Otis Crawford.
Elsmore mayor: Clarence Price.
Elsmore Council: John Fewins, Dick Fewins, Christine Yackle, Gary Yackle and Chad Starliper.
Bassett mayor: Larry Crawford.
Bassett Council: Carol Crawford, Connie Alexander, Mark Dozier, James Ratcliff and Sheryl Ratcliff.
Savonburg mayor: Vivian McMurray.
Savonburg Council: Lon Hale, Jerry Kauffman, Janice Janssen, Glen Wolfe and Vern Leon Cuppet Jr.
Allen Community College Board of Trustees: Neal Barclay and Harvey Rogers, Iola, and Jenny Spillman, Moran.
USD 256 Board of Education: position 4, Melvin Bland, Moran; position 5, Joshua Herrmann, Elsmore; position 6, Steve Becker, Elsmore.
USD 257 Board of Education: position 4, Tony Leavitt, Iola; position 5, Buck Quincy, Iola; position 6, Darrel Catron, Gas.
USD 258 Board of Education: (all elected at large), Steve Sellman, Helen Harrington and Donald Hauser.